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overhaul

verb
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over·​haul | \ ˌō-vər-ˈhȯl How to pronounce overhaul (audio) \
overhauled; overhauling; overhauls

Definition of overhaul

transitive verb

1a : 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 Lawmakers are overhauling the welfare 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.
Other Words from overhaul Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about overhaul

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Other Words from overhaul

overhaul \ ˈō-​vər-​ˌhȯl How to pronounce overhaul (audio) \ noun

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.
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Recent Examples on the Web This transit will encourage us to overhaul our relationships and our closest connections, prompting us to deal with old hurts, revisit past loves, and set new boundaries. — Athena Antares, refinery29.com, "Your Love Horoscope For 2021 Is Here," 3 Jan. 2021 Our great nation needs to do better by those attending our universities and overhaul the student loan fiasco. — Star Tribune, "Readers Write: Student debt, COVID deaths, deployment's effects on kids," 28 Dec. 2020 Instead of simply adopting a preference for small businesses, the Polish government should instead overhaul its corporate tax rules and truly adopt the Estonian approach to taxation. — Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, "Wall Street, Woke Capitalism, and China," 3 Dec. 2020 Of course, Congress could overhaul Section 230 rather than repealing it outright. — Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, "Trump to Congress: Repeal Section 230 or I’ll veto military funding," 2 Dec. 2020 Before that happens, overhaul your skin-care lineup with tons of moisture-boosting products. — Marci Robin, Allure, "The 14 Most Exciting Deals From Ulta Beauty's Big Black Friday Sale," 27 Nov. 2020 The agreement mandates that police overhaul the practice, from its documentation to supervision and discipline. — Elliot Hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "ACLU demands Milwaukee's next police chief end systemic racism and bias in policing," 10 Nov. 2020 Throughout the episode, the trio will overhaul the kitchen, dining room, and living area to create a stylish-but-functional gathering space. — Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, "Watch Allison Janney Smash Down a Door While Wearing an Evening Gown in "Celebrity IOU" Sneak Peek," 21 Dec. 2020 Yang explores the 40-year battle to overhaul racist immigration laws passed in the early 20th century that culminated in the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act. — Washington Post, "50 notable works of nonfiction in 2020," 19 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'overhaul.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of overhaul

1705, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Time Traveler for overhaul

Time Traveler

The first known use of overhaul was in 1705

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Statistics for overhaul

Last Updated

12 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Overhaul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overhaul. Accessed 18 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for overhaul

overhaul

verb
How to pronounce overhaul (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of overhaul

: to look at every part of (something) and repair or replace the parts that do not work
: to change (something) completely in order to improve it

See the full definition for overhaul in the English Language Learners Dictionary

overhaul

verb
over·​haul | \ ˌō-vər-ˈhȯl How to pronounce overhaul (audio) \
overhauled; overhauling

Kids Definition of overhaul

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to examine thoroughly and make necessary repairs or improvements on Mechanics overhauled the car's engine.
2 : to catch up with : overtake Police overhauled the thieves.

overhaul

noun
over·​haul | \ ˈō-vər-ˌhȯl How to pronounce overhaul (audio) \

Kids Definition of overhaul (Entry 2 of 2)

: an instance of overhauling The ship underwent a complete overhaul.

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More from Merriam-Webster on overhaul

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for overhaul

Nglish: Translation of overhaul for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of overhaul for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about overhaul

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