overarching

adjective

over·​arch·​ing ˌō-vər-ˈär-chiŋ 

1

: forming an arch overhead

an overarching bower

an overarching bridge

2

: dominating or embracing all else

overarching goals

overarching ambition

projects of overarching public benefit

—Bob Katz

Examples of overarching in a Sentence

Computer downtime is an overarching problem in all departments.

Recent Examples on the Web

The tie-in melding top athletic performance and dermatological science has integrative health as its overarching focus. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026

When a pair of urban explorers venture into an underground facility associated with sinister audio experiments, the segment’s vlogging setup gets caught between its familiar visual format and the installment’s overarching musical theme. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026

Nureni will oversee Warner Music’s MENA’s overarching vision, corporate development, strategic joint ventures, and catalog expansion across all markets. — Jem Aswad, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026

This overarching label encompassed Anabaptists, Baptists, Brownists, Levelers, Antinomians, Presbyterians, Ranters and many of the highly individual prophets and seers of 1640s Britain. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1720, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for overarching

• arching
• marching
• parching