overhaul

verb

over·​haul ˌō-vər-ˈhȯl 

overhauled; overhauling; overhauls

transitive verb

1

a

: to examine thoroughly

Our systems of education are being constantly overhauled …

—Saturday Rev.

b(1)

: repair

The mechanic overhauled the engine.

(2)

: to renovate, remake, revise, or renew thoroughly

The town librarians are overhauling the summer reading program.

2

: to haul or drag over

3

: overtake

The most imposing U.S. swimmer was overhauled by a 17-year-old Australian in the butterfly race.

overhaul

ˈō-vər-ˌhȯl 

noun

Synonyms of overhaul

• catch
• overtake
• chase
• reach
• pursue

Examples of overhaul in a Sentence

The mechanic overhauled the car's engine.

They had to overhaul their original plans.

Lawmakers are overhauling the welfare program.

Recent Examples on the Web

This initiative would overhaul recall elections by allowing a person who was recalled from office to run in the same election to fill the office they were removed from. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Dominguez made lobbying for more state funding a centerpiece of his campaign and vowed to overhaul the district’s lunch program and eventually offer free meals to all CPS students. — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026

If elected, Tiffany promised to freeze property taxes, lower income taxes, improve schools, bolster job creation, overhaul the state Department of Natural Resources and protect farmland from foreign ownership. — CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

Czech public media workers went on a one-day strike on Tuesday to protest a government plan to overhaul how public broadcasters are funded, legislation that many say would threaten their independence. — ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1705, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for overhaul

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol
• gossypol

Kids Definition

overhaul

verb

over·​haul ˌō-vər-ˈhȯl 

1

: to make a thorough examination of and make necessary repairs and adjustments on

overhaul an engine

2

: overtake sense 1a

overhaul

ˈō-vər-ˌhȯl 

noun