overall

1 of 3

adverb

over·​all ˌō-vər-ˈȯl How to pronounce overall (audio)
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 powerTime
c
: with everyone or everything taken into account
was third overall in earnings
got 31 miles to the gallon overall

overall

2 of 3

noun

over·​all ˈō-vər-ˌȯl How to pronounce overall (audio)
1
a
overalls ˈō-vər-ˌȯlz How to pronounce overall (audio) plural, archaic : loose protective trousers worn over regular clothes
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

Illustration of overall

Illustration of overall
  • overall 1b

overall

3 of 3

adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen is even higher on Gonzalez, ranking him as the 28th-best prospect overall and comparing him to a first-round pick. Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 Tax savings ranked eighth overall behind other factors such as improved security and safety (47%) and better education opportunities (52%). Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
Caleb Heavner completed 18 of 37 passes for 212 yards with a touchdown for Fort Hays State, which dropped to 4-3 overall, 3-2 in the MIAA. The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2025 With Saturday's result, Petrino has a record of 34-18 as the Razorbacks' head coach and a record of 137-72 overall. Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Parker, one of several cast members to never fully shake their obvious Britishness, is probably the overall standout, scary one scene and heartbreaking the next. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025 Reducing the cooking time isn’t about saving time overall. Emily Johnson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overall

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1631, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overall was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overall. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

overall

1 of 2 adverb
over·​all ˌō-və-ˈrȯl How to pronounce overall (audio)
: as a whole : generally
we find your work satisfactory, overall

overall

2 of 2 adjective
ˌō-və-ˈrȯl,
ˈō-və-ˌrȯl
1
: including everything
overall expenses
2
: viewed as a whole : general

More from Merriam-Webster on overall

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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