Illustration of overhang
- 1 overhang 3
over·hang
ˈō-vər-ˌhaŋ 
ˌō-vər-ˈhaŋ
overhung
ˈō-vər-ˌhəŋ
ˌō-vər-ˈhəŋ
; overhanging
ˌō-vər-ˈhəŋ
; overhanging
: to project so as to be over something
over·hang
ˈō-vər-ˌhaŋ
plural overhangs
1
: something that overhangs
also
: the extent of the overhanging
2
: the part of the bow or stern of a ship that projects over the water above the waterline
3
: a projection of the roof or upper story of a building beyond the wall of the lower part
4
a
: an excess of something that is left over and not easily disposed of
inventory overhang
Housing prices will not stabilize until the massive overhang of foreclosed homes is reduced.—
Robert Borosage
Robert Borosage
b
: an excess amount of a commodity or security the selling of which often drives down the value of that kind of commodity or security
share overhang
Examples of overhang in a Sentence
Verb
A cliff overhangs the trail.
The patio was overhung by a canopy.
The path was overhung with willow trees.
Noun
The overhang of the roof cast a shadow on the ground.
a recess in the face of the cliff that is hidden by the thick vines dangling from the jagged overhang above
Recent Examples on the Web
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2025
In the rate case, AES proposed relying on a new, more expensive type of trimming that removes overhanging branches and undergrowth below power lines, which is more reliable, said Cody Flint, AES's vegetation management manager.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 17 Sep. 2025
Kim Velsey, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2025
This lifts an overhang from a deeply out-of-favor and cheap-seeming group.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overhang
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Verb
Terraces filled with lush greenery and overhanging plantings evoke a sense of living within the landscape, almost like treehouses in the sky.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2025
In the rate case, AES proposed relying on a new, more expensive type of trimming that removes overhanging branches and undergrowth below power lines, which is more reliable, said Cody Flint, AES's vegetation management manager.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
And while other passive homes from the ’80s and ’90s were often flooded with light, reducing their efficiency, or involved complicated manual shading and cooling features, here the dome’s overhang blocks direct light, so the interiors are bright but don’t bake in the sun.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2025
This lifts an overhang from a deeply out-of-favor and cheap-seeming group.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overhang
Cite this Entry
“Overhang.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overhang. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overhang
1 of 2 verb
over·hang
ˈō-vər-ˌhaŋ
ˌō-vər-ˈhaŋ
overhung
-ˌhəŋ
-ˈhəŋ
; overhanging
1
: to stick out or hang over
2
overhang
2 of 2 noun
over·hang
ˈō-vər-haŋ
: a part that overhangs
the overhang of a roof
Medical Definition
overhang
noun
over·hang
ˈō-vər-ˌhaŋ
: a portion of a filling that extends beyond the normal contour of a tooth
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