Illustration of overall
- overall 1b
over·all
ˌō-vər-ˈȯl 
1
: all over sense 1
the pattern used overall
2
: from one end to the other
600 feet long overall
3
a
: in view of all the circumstances or conditions
overall, the sale was a success
b
: as a whole : generally
doesn't do as well overall
overall and in most of its detail the film has remarkable power—
Time
Time
c
: with everyone or everything taken into account
was third overall in earnings
got 31 miles to the gallon overall
over·all
ˈō-vər-ˌȯl
1
a
b
usually overalls
: trousers of strong material usually with a bib and shoulder straps
2
chiefly British
: a loose-fitting protective smock worn over regular clothing
over·all
ˌō-vər-ˈȯl
ˈō-vər-ˌȯl
ˈō-vər-ˌȯl
1
: including everything
2
: viewed as a whole : general
Examples of overall in a Sentence
Adverb
He made a few mistakes but did well overall.
Overall, the project was successful.
Adjective
your overall score after two rounds
His mistake didn't change my overall impression of him.
Your overall health is sound.
She likes the overall quality of the product.
The scratch didn't affect the car's overall appearance.
Recent Examples on the Web
CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Nearly a third of Americans, meanwhile, pointed to the high cost of living overall as their most pressing financial concern — suggesting affordability remains a top voting issue.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
Campbell was selected fourth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft and struggled in last year’s playoff run after returning from a knee injury.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Yet my overall impressions of the exhibition—as a public forum of address, redress, and dialogue in which critical questions of public memory, regional identity, ideologies of nationalism, and the capacious field of site-specific sculpture can, if not should be borne out—are decidedly more mixed.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overall
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Adverb
Kristersson said Sweden was less affected by the current energy crisis than many other countries overall, noting Swedish electricity production is largely based on nuclear, hydro and renewable energies.
—CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Nearly a third of Americans, meanwhile, pointed to the high cost of living overall as their most pressing financial concern — suggesting affordability remains a top voting issue.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
The Raiders, of course, took their franchise man in quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
Campbell was selected fourth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft and struggled in last year’s playoff run after returning from a knee injury.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Agents in the industry think United might need more overall, possibly a surplus of three players from the numbers now.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Yet my overall impressions of the exhibition—as a public forum of address, redress, and dialogue in which critical questions of public memory, regional identity, ideologies of nationalism, and the capacious field of site-specific sculpture can, if not should be borne out—are decidedly more mixed.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overall
Cite this Entry
“Overall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overall. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overall
1 of 2 adverb
over·all
ˌō-və-ˈrȯl
: as a whole : generally
we find your work satisfactory, overall
overall
2 of 2 adjectiveˌō-və-ˈrȯl,
ˈō-və-ˌrȯl
1
: including everything
overall expenses
2
: viewed as a whole : general
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