overhead

adverb

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over·head | \ ˌō-vər-ˈhed

Definition of overhead

(Entry 1 of 3)

: above one's head : aloft

overhead

adjective

over·head | \ ˈō-vər-ˌhed

Definition of overhead (Entry 2 of 3)

1a : operating, lying, or coming from above

b : having the driving part above the part driven valves operated by an overhead camshaft

2 : of or relating to overhead overhead costs

overhead

noun

over·head | \ ˈō-vər-ˌhed

Definition of overhead (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : business expenses (such as rent, insurance, or heating) not chargeable to a particular part of the work or product

2 : ceiling especially : the ceiling of a ship's compartment

3 : a stroke in a racket game made above head height : smash

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about overhead

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Synonyms & Antonyms for overhead

Synonyms: Adverb

Antonyms: Adverb

Examples of overhead in a Sentence

Adverb A chandelier hung directly overhead. People were making noise in the balcony overhead. Noun Her company has very little overhead.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb When demonstrations occurred last summer, the surveillance planes flew overhead in Baltimore, watching people, protests, and police from above. — Dwight Weingarten, The Christian Science Monitor, "Eye in the sky: Did Baltimore’s aerial surveillance program go too far?," 23 Feb. 2021 The celebration continued on his birthday a few days later, when two World War II-era fighter planes flew overhead in tribute. — Danica Kirka, Anchorage Daily News, "Capt. Tom Moore, 100-year-old UK veteran who walked to boost health workers, dies with COVID-19," 2 Feb. 2021 The celebration continued on his birthday a few days later, when two World War II-era fighter planes flew overhead in tribute. — Danica Kirka, BostonGlobe.com, "Captain Tom Moore, UK veteran who walked for health care workers, dies at 100," 2 Feb. 2021 The landowner looked on, occasionally raising a shotgun from his shoulder to fire at birds overhead. — Ben Hubbard, New York Times, "‘If There Were No Hashish Here, You Wouldn’t See a Single House’," 19 Oct. 2020 That leaves tens of millions of dollars that went toward expenses like production costs, overhead — and exorbitant consulting fees collected by members of the group. — Steve Peoples, Anchorage Daily News, "How a leading anti-Trump group ignored a crisis in its ranks," 12 Feb. 2021 In particular, the model indicates that a levitating plate could mosey 50 miles overhead while carrying sensor-sized cargo. — Max G. Levy, Wired, "Researchers Levitated a Small Tray Using Nothing but Light," 12 Feb. 2021 That leaves tens of millions of dollars that went toward expenses like production costs, overhead — and exorbitant consulting fees collected by members of the group. — Steve Peoples And Brian Slodysko, Chron, "How a leading anti-Trump group ignored a crisis in its ranks," 11 Feb. 2021 Due to fears of possible Iranian retaliation for the sentence, the Belgian courtroom was heavily guarded on Thursday, with police helicopters flying overhead. — Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, "Iranian diplomat convicted in plot to bomb Paris meeting of dissidents," 4 Feb. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Add a desk lamp for softer light, for example, and rather than using overhead lights, which can sometimes be too bright and draining, repurpose a table light from elsewhere in your home. — Forbes, "A Fresh Start: Foster A Productive And Profitable Year With These Remote Work Updates," 1 Mar. 2021 Bright overhead lights were turned on at 6 a.m. every day, and inmates said that the guards threatened disciplinary action if anyone turned them off. — New York Times, "Vulnerable Inmates Left in Prison as Covid Rages," 27 Feb. 2021 The officer then activated his overhead lights to initiate a traffic stop. — cleveland, "Woman stabs man who wouldn’t leave her home: Cleveland Heights police blotter," 25 Feb. 2021 Motorists would see the current rates and the total cost for three destinations on overhead signs before entering the lanes. — Washington Post, "Maryland reveals potential toll rates for proposed HOT lanes on Beltway, I-270," 25 Feb. 2021 The orbiters provide stunning overhead views of craters carved by meteor strikes and deltas sculpted by ancient water. — Marina Koren, The Atlantic, "Mars Has Never Felt Closer to Home," 23 Feb. 2021 Smart lights aren’t just for overhead ceiling lights—these little guys can be placed in smaller places like desk or nightstand lamps. — Gabrielle Hondorp, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Smart Lights and Systems For Your Home," 17 Feb. 2021 Despite missing two of his team’s six matches while in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, Ibrahimovic leads Serie A with seven goals after scoring the game-winner on an overhead kick Sunday. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, "Soccer newsletter: With a week to go, things aren’t clear in MLS," 3 Nov. 2020 As another officer came up from behind and activated his cruiser’s overhead lights, the boy backed into that cruiser, damaging its front end. — Thomas Jewell, cleveland, "Unlicensed juvenile driver avoids hitting one cruiser, then backs into another: Orange Police Blotter," 23 Jan. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun As the scale of the situation became clearer, Maxwell, whose experimental aesthetic has turned deadpan neutrality into offbeat stage poetry, was glad to have a company that was small, nimble and not burdened with substantial overhead. — Charles Mcnulty, Los Angeles Times, "Theaters hit the one-year anniversary of shutdown. How are artists keeping afloat?," 2 Mar. 2021 When viewed abstractly, the overhead of implementing such a system might seem wasteful, given that tools like e-mail are much simpler and more flexible. — Cal Newport, The New Yorker, "E-mail Is Making Us Miserable," 26 Feb. 2021 With very low overhead, Fubu managed to get valuable press from musicians in particular. — Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, "Fubu: The Brand of LL Cool J and Nas Is Courting Generation Z," 22 Feb. 2021 The sensors on an aircraft overhead showed a boat packed with people, about a dozen in all. — New York Times, "Risking Everything to Come to America on the Open Ocean," 28 Jan. 2021 Companies that don’t have a venue and therefore aren’t burdened by significant overhead may have an advantage in winning back reluctant theatergoers and in converting new ones. — Los Angeles Times, "My dream for theater: Toss the old business model in the dumpster fire of 2020," 21 Dec. 2020 With the pandemic, some of that overhead has gone up, Kennedy said. — Dallas News, "‘It’s a struggle’: How Dallas’ drag queens are making it work in the COVID-19 pandemic," 3 Jan. 2021 Examples of static stretches include pulling your heel to your butt and holding it there to stretch your quad, or bending and pulling your elbow overhead to stretch your tricep. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "11 Benefits of Stretching That Will Make Anyone Want to Move Their Body," 24 Dec. 2020 With lower overhead and time commitments, Ms. Moore says chances can be taken on original stories, riskier topics and ambitious concepts that would take significantly more resources to pull off on screen. — Chris Kornelis, WSJ, "From Demi Moore to Matthew McConaughey, Screen Stars Are Turning to Podcasts," 25 Dec. 2020

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