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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
nounover·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
\ plural, archaic : loose protective trousers worn over regular clothesb 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
adjectiveover·all | \ ˌō-vər-ˈȯl , ˈō-vər-ˌȯl \
, ˈō-vər-ˌȯl \Definition of overall (Entry 3 of 3)
1 : including everything
2 : viewed as a whole : general
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Synonyms & Antonyms for overall
Synonyms: Adverb
Synonyms: Adjective
Antonyms: Adjective
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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb The discovery grows out of work published last year by University of Toronto engineer Ted Sargent, describing a similar process that used more electricity and was less efficient overall.
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Susan Cosier, Scientific American, "New Process Could Provide More Sustainable Plastic Production," 7 Feb. 2020 So, overall, the moderate/pragmatic lane is numerically superior — even in Iowa (though barely).
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NBC News, "The takeaway from Iowa: Buttigieg, Sanders won their respective ideological lanes," 5 Feb. 2020 There were some misfires, of course, but overall the fashion was great.
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Glamour, "Grammys 2020: The Best-Dressed Celebrities on the Red Carpet," 27 Jan. 2020 And overall, at nearly 32%, Hispanic adults had the highest rate of inactivity among U.S. adults.
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Shraddha Chakradhar, STAT, "15% of U.S. adults are physically inactive, new CDC data show," 16 Jan. 2020 Donald Trump’s replacement shouldn’t just be a real billionaire with slightly better policies overall but still doesn’t want to pay much in taxes.
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Michael Arceneaux, Essence, "Michael Bloomberg And His Campaign Ads Are Tiring," 17 Dec. 2019 But the fact that U.S. airlines overall are close to achieving a full decade of profitability is remarkable in an industry infamous for losing money for investors.
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Jon Sindreu, WSJ, "Airline Earnings Fund the Battle for Latin America," 23 Jan. 2020 Rather, over more than 10,000 years, these highly adaptable people shifted activities seasonally across the landscape, taking advantage of a wide range of resources and exerting limited, and most likely very localized, ecological impacts overall.
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Elizabeth Chilton, The Conversation, "Native people did not use fire to shape New England’s landscape," 20 Jan. 2020 Still, millennials are moving less than previous generations did at their age, and Americans overall are moving less.
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Joseph Pisani, USA TODAY, "Is that couch too much of a commitment? Startups now rent furniture to millennials," 19 Jan. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The group overall holds pub crawls and other fundraisers.
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Susan Katz Keating, Washington Examiner, "Swimming for the fallen: Florida frogmen take SEAL fundraiser to waters beyond Tampa," 3 Feb. 2020 That draft also included Houston’s Deshaun Watson (No. 12 overall), who, like Mahomes, didn’t play in a pro-style offense in college.
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Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, "Why did 49ers pass on Patrick Mahomes? Kyle Shanahan explains," 28 Jan. 2020 All four have lovely moments, and while Taymor's film overall lacks fluidity, their performances do fit with surprising neatness into a single, steadily evolving characterization.
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David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Glorias': Film Review | Sundance 2020," 27 Jan. 2020 The concept of wealth redistribution overall seems to have traction in the country.
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Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, "A majority of Republicans actually support a wealth tax—if you don’t call it that," 10 Jan. 2020 LeBron James shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern after being selected No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA draft.(Associated Press)
David Stern didn’t just help create global stars.
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Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, "Players recall fondly how David Stern always shared in their biggest moments," 2 Jan. 2020 For the first time in 25 years, the Hoosiers (6-2 overall, 3-2 Big Ten) clinched a bowl bid before the calendar turned to November.
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Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star, "A breakthrough win? Sure feels like it. 'Did you see what we’re doing at Indiana?’," 27 Oct. 2019 Senior quarterback Peter Cleary went 19-of-23 passing for 283 yards and a touchdown, with 13 going to classmate Jake Etter for 175 yards as the Sachems (6-1 overall, 2-1 Cape Ann Kinney) handed visiting North Reading its first loss of the year.
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BostonGlobe.com, "New Bedford blanked Brockton last fall, 18-0, at the Boxers’ homecoming celebration.," 27 Oct. 2019 Attendance keeps falling as the losses keep piling up (11-28 overall, 4-23 Big Ten).
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Teddy Greenstein, chicagotribune.com, "5 things we learned about Big Ten football after Week 3, including the Lovie Smith Watch is ON and Mark Dantonio had a brutal day. Plus, our updated power rankings.," 15 Sep. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective And while the White House is increasing the Energy Department’s A.I. spending, it’s reducing overall funding to the agency’s office of science by 17% to $5.8 billion.
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Jonathan Vanian, Fortune, "White House proposes big increase in A.I. and quantum spending while cutting other sciences," 12 Feb. 2020 If Auburn's top 10 were ranked by NFL receptions instead of receiving yards, Franklin would be replaced by fullback Tony Richardson, who'd be eighth overall with 210 catches.
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Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, "Auburn’s top 10 NFL receivers: Waiting for Slayton," 11 Feb. 2020 Nonetheless, the researchers still find more overall support for the industry in those precincts that have oil and gas wells.
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Josh Siegel, Washington Examiner, "Daily on Energy: Trump budget runs counter to congressional GOP climate plans," 11 Feb. 2020 What isn’t clear is how that number fits into the overall diagnostic testing strategy for this coronavirus.
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Tom Inglesby, STAT, "Hospitals, governments need more data to prepare for the new coronavirus outbreak," 11 Feb. 2020 Notably, the businessman has invested more than any candidate in New Hampshire's airwaves, nearly $20 million overall.
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Nicole Sganga, CBS News, "What to know about the 2020 New Hampshire primary," 11 Feb. 2020 The Blazers are 22-29-2 ATS overall and 10-13-2 at home.
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Esten Mclaren, USA TODAY Sportsbook Wire, "Miami Heat at Portland Trail Blazers odds, picks and best bets," 9 Feb. 2020 The number includes the Pistons' first-round draft pick cap hold, projected to be sixth overall by fivethirtyeight.com.
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Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press, "What Detroit Pistons could do with NBA's third most cap space in 2020," 8 Feb. 2020 Stratford is 8-3-1 with six shutouts overall, including shutouts of Spring Woods, Cy Ridge and Northbrook.
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Jack Marrion, Houston Chronicle, "Memorial girls basketball honors seniors, prepares for final stretch," 3 Feb. 2020
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for overall
overall
adverbEnglish Language Learners Definition of overall
(Entry 1 of 3)
: with everyone or everything included
: as a whole : in general
overall
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of overall (Entry 2 of 3)
US : a pair of pants with an extra piece attached that covers the chest and has straps that go over the shoulders
British : a loose coat that is worn over clothes so that they do not get dirty
British : a piece of clothing that is worn over other clothes to protect them
overall
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of overall (Entry 3 of 3)
: including everyone or everything
: viewed as a whole or in general
See the full definition for overall in the English Language Learners Dictionary
overall
adverbover·all | \ ˌō-vər-ˈȯl \
\Kids Definition of overall
(Entry 1 of 2)
: as a whole : in most ways
They did a nice job overall.
overall
adjectiveKids Definition of overall (Entry 2 of 2)
: including everyone or everything
overall expenses
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Comments on overall
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Time Traveler for overall
The first known use of overall was in the 13th century
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