overall

adverb

over·all | \ ˌō-vər-ˈȯl

Definition of overall

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : all over sense 1 the pattern used overall

2 : from one end to the other 600 feet long overall

3a : 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

c : with everyone or everything taken into account was third overall in earnings got 31 miles to the gallon overall

overall

noun

over·all | \ ˈō-vər-ˌȯl

Definition of overall (Entry 2 of 3)

1a overalls\ ˈō-vər-ˌȯlz

\ 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

overall

adjective

over·all | \ ˌō-vər-ˈȯl

, ˈō-vər-ˌȯl\

Definition of overall (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : including everything

2 : viewed as a whole : general

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about overall

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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: Adverb

While inmate-on-inmate homicides are up significantly in jails overall, Los Angeles County, home to more than 10 million people, including 16,000 in its jails, has been an exception. — Jason Pohl, ProPublica, "There Has Been an Explosion of Homicides in California’s County Jails. Here’s Why.," 15 June 2019 The vehicle matches many competitors overall in the midsize SUV segment. — James Raia, Houston Chronicle, "Mazda CX-9: Family hauler is versatile, well-equipped, has plenty of overall appeal," 8 June 2019 Cheatham made the trip as a guest of Alabama’s Quinnen Williams, who was selected third overall by the New York Jets, and Quincy Williams, Quinnen’s older brother and a linebacker selected in the third round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. — Josh Bean | Jbean@al.com, al.com, "End of an era: Wenonah looking for football coach for first time since 1989," 8 June 2019 But overall, Pose still sparks one emotion more than any other, and that’s joy. — Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, "Pose acts up, sparks joy in season 2: EW review," 7 June 2019 With such rapid growth overall, one investor on the earnings call wanted to know how Zoom will continue to make sure its employees—who number more than 2,000 now—will stay happy. — Michelle Cheng, Quartz at Work, "Investors saw much to love in Zoom’s first earnings report as a public company," 7 June 2019 But overall, the technology is cutting down scan times by 70% in the Dallas lab store that opened last November. — Maria Halkias, Dallas News, "Walmart's tech focus: 'Take friction out' of 160 million weekly transactions," 6 June 2019 Embiid has yet to play for a full season since being drafted third overall in 2014. — Keith Pompey, https://www.inquirer.com, "Doctors Daniel Medina and David T. Martin casualties of Sixers’ failed athlete care," 4 June 2019 The exterior styling overall will be pretty evolutionary as is typical for Bentley, but expect the interior to be revolutionary, largely carrying over from the Continental GT's tech-heavy, design-forward cabin. — Daniel Golson, Car and Driver, "2020 Bentley Flying Spur Teased Again with New 3D Quilted Leather Technique," 16 May 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Alec Marsh, a pitcher from Arizona State who graduated from Ronald Reagan in Milwaukee, was taken 70th overall by the Kansas City Royals. — Jr Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Three Wisconsin high-school products of Fox Valley Association drafted in first 10 rounds of MLB Draft," 5 June 2019 Matt Wallner, a right fielder from Forest Lake playing at Mississippi State, was taken 39th overall. — Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, "Twins draft Stillwater teammates Will Frisch, Drew Gilbert," 5 June 2019 Green had 20 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for his seventh playoff triple-double overall, and third of this postseason. — Anne M. Peterson, The Seattle Times, "Green shows a more mature side for the Warriors," 20 May 2019 Some studies have found that there’s virtually no difference between people who regularly practiced intermittent fasting and those who simply cut back their calorie intake overall. — Jaclyn London, Ms, Rd, Cdn, Good Housekeeping, "What You Should Know About the 16:8 Diet Before You Start Fasting," 3 May 2019 Hamilton had been going for his sixth overall to beat the joint-record held by Jim Clark and Alain Prost. — Ciaran Fahey, chicagotribune.com, "Sebastian Vettel wins British Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton recovers to finish second," 8 July 2018 In keeping with the agricultural bent, this year’s fair also includes a new promotion offering free admission to visitors who show up wearing overalls between noon and 3 p.m. Thursdays. — Luke Money, latimes.com, "The chance to ‘Free Your Inner Farmer’ is just around the corner at the O.C. Fair," 21 June 2018 Oh, and don’t be afraid of the accessories: Layer up with colorful scarves, overalls or cover-ups, throw on some jewelry, play with hats, plus go high drama with the sunglasses. — Fawnia Soo Hoo, Glamour, "These Women Have Spent Hundreds of Hours in Swimsuits. Here Are Their Tips for Getting the Perfect Fit.," 21 May 2019 Deputy Frederick Eckley took her report and accepted the overalls. — latimes.com, "'They framed me': On death row for decades, Kevin Cooper pushes for new DNA tests in Chino Hills murders," 8 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Having a Variable Refresh Rate range as wide as possible does dramatically improve the overall gaming experience on adaptive sync monitor. — Gordon Mah Ung, PCWorld, "Nvidia's G-Sync Compatible validation flunks over 94% of FreeSync monitors. Here's why," 28 May 2019 Romper reported that Maddie made about $2,000 per episode, equating to about $400,000 for her six seasons overall. — Mackenzie Dunn, Woman's Day, "Maddie Ziegler's Net Worth Is More Than You'd Expect," 25 May 2019 Plush furniture in the more active side of the space (like a low, modular sofa from BoConcept and floor cushions from Urban Outfitters) keeps rambunctious toddlers safe, while a restrained palette elevates the overall look. — Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, "How to Create the World's Most Insane Playroom," 24 May 2019 Although the overall look is frosty, it's balanced with warmer highlights against a cooler base. — Nykia Spradley, Allure, "Ash Brunette Is Hottest Hair-Color Trend of the Summer," 22 May 2019 The key is to use the finish in a way that will complement the overall look of the room and not overwhelm the space. — Monique Valeris, ELLE Decor, "Everything You Need to Know About High-Gloss Paint," 22 May 2019 This Graphite Gray example is a near doppelgänger for the 300SL Gullwing that John Fitch drove to fifth place overall and first in class at the 1955 Mille Miglia. — Andrew Wendler, Car and Driver, "Bring a Trailer Goes Posh as Auction Site Starts “White Glove” Service by Selling Its Own Mercedes Gullwing at No Reserve," 17 May 2019 Most importantly, always talk to your OB-GYN about any concerns related to your period, fertility, or overall health and what solutions might work best for you. — Jaclyn London, Ms, Rd, Cdn, Good Housekeeping, "How People Are Using "Seed Cycling" for Hormone Balance (And Whether or Not You Should Try It)," 16 May 2019 While the judges do admit that the competition was close, Jason was able to check off all three boxes—overall look, budget, and client satisfaction—resulting in a rich, luxurious bedroom that is equally soothing and show-stopping. — Lucia Tonelli, ELLE Decor, "Best Room Wins Episode Two Steps Up to the Challenge of Contemporary," 9 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'overall.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.