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
Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025
The Affirm Card, which is the company’s big bet for driving greater usage overall, saw GMV rise 115% from a year earlier, and the number of active cardholders more than doubled.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 8 May 2025
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 10 May 2025
Crittenton went on to play one season at Georgia Tech before being selected 19th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.
—Nasha Smith, People.com, 6 May 2025
Ethan Westerman, Arkansas Online, 12 May 2025
The overall margin of sampling error is +/- 4.0 percentage points.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for overall
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Adverb
Rubenstein tells the Guardian that superb starlings living in larger flocks have higher success rates at raising chicks and surviving overall.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025
The Affirm Card, which is the company’s big bet for driving greater usage overall, saw GMV rise 115% from a year earlier, and the number of active cardholders more than doubled.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 8 May 2025
Noun
The company is gearing up for another Starship test flight — the vehicle's ninth overall — in the coming weeks.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 10 May 2025
Crittenton went on to play one season at Georgia Tech before being selected 19th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.
—Nasha Smith, People.com, 6 May 2025
Adjective
Arkansas earned the No. 4 overall seed for the NCAA Softball Tournament and will host a regional that includes (2) Oklahoma State, (3) Indiana and (4) Saint Louis.
—Ethan Westerman, Arkansas Online, 12 May 2025
The overall margin of sampling error is +/- 4.0 percentage points.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for overall
Cite this Entry
“Overall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overall. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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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