over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed 
1
a
: 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
over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed
Synonyms
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
Shelly Tan, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
Crowds of people on the Haitian side gathered under the shade of trees as armed Dominican soldiers patrolled entry points and military planes roared overhead.
—Martín Adames Alcántara and Dánica Coto, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Sep. 2023
As waves lapped the boat, Mr. Winkler and his pro bono deckhands set about sorting through the pile, throwing back the sea robins, dogfish and porgies as flocks of sea gulls squawked overhead, eager for the castoffs.
—Karen Zraick Karsten Moran, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023
Helicopters hovered overhead throughout the day as officers brought in horses, search dogs and armored personnel carriers and began searching an 8- to 10-square-mile (21- to 26-square-kilometer) area of rolling farm country, forests and parkland northwest of Philadelphia.
—Maryclaire Dale and Marc Levy, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2023
Take the arm opposite to the front leg up overhead, and use it to bend your body away from the front leg.
Sets and reps: Hold this position for about 30 seconds for a total of 3 rounds.
—Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 7 Sep. 2023
Add candles, twinkling lights hung overhead, and all your closest friends and family for a perfect night spent in the crisp autumn air.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2023
Sirens sounded, helicopters circled overhead and rifle-toting police walked through her yard.
—Maryclaire Dale and Marc Levy, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2023
Tiny pyramids built into the fabric are designed to deflect sunlight, much like the leaves of a tree overhead — or similar tiny pyramids on the skin of the Saharan silver ant.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2023
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2023
Each train also includes a quiet car in which passengers are asked to limit conversation, phone calls are not allowed, and low overhead lighting is used.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2023
Additionally, switch off any lamps or overhead lighting when not in use or the space is unoccupied.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2023
An area rug and overhead lighting set the stage for cozy autumn nights.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2023
The utility also doesn’t have to spend as much to maintain overhead wires and to constantly clear brush around equipment.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 1 Sep. 2023
The surface of this fabric consists of a pattern that absorbs overhead light, while the bottom layer enhances the strength of the projection.
—Popular Mechanics, 29 Aug. 2023
An overhead water system mists to mimic the wet weather of Kauai’s forests.
—Dino Grandoni, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Aug. 2023
This pendant light is adaptable to sloped ceilings, has an adjustable height, and can be dimmed to deliver the perfect overhead glow day or night.
—Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2023
Kashmir Hill, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2023
Gauff scrambled to get Sabalenka’s strokes back, including somehow deflecting a booming overhead, before a second, unreachable overhead bounced into the seats.
—Howard Fendrich, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Sep. 2023
Gauff scrambled to keep getting Sabalenka's strokes back over the net, including somehow deflecting a booming overhead on the run, before a second, unreachable overhead bounced off the ground and into the stands.
—CBS News, 9 Sep. 2023
Gauff scrambled to keep getting Sabalenka’s strokes back over the net, including somehow deflecting a booming overhead on the run, before a second, unreachable overhead bounced off the ground and into the stands.
—Howard Fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023
The room is lit by four fluorescent circular fixtures overhead, which reflect off the white lacquered surface of a large conference table like ring lights off a pupil.
—Lauren Larson, Men's Health, 7 Sep. 2023
Overall deals typically pay overhead for a writer’s company and fund the development of projects.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 6 Sep. 2023
With prices that are on average 30% to 50% lower than other e-commerce sites and retailers, even small business owners have come to buy their supplies from Temu to save on overheads.
—Molly Peck, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2023
After stumbling through the explanation for the 6.0-liter W-12 with its dual overhead cams, 626 horses, and 664 pound-feet of torque, attention turned to the various features and controls in the spacious back seat.
—Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 5 Aug. 2023
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Adverb
Illustrations of mooncakes, one whole and seen overhead on the left.
—Shelly Tan, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
Crowds of people on the Haitian side gathered under the shade of trees as armed Dominican soldiers patrolled entry points and military planes roared overhead.
—Martín Adames Alcántara and Dánica Coto, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Sep. 2023
As waves lapped the boat, Mr. Winkler and his pro bono deckhands set about sorting through the pile, throwing back the sea robins, dogfish and porgies as flocks of sea gulls squawked overhead, eager for the castoffs.
—Karen Zraick Karsten Moran, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023
Helicopters hovered overhead throughout the day as officers brought in horses, search dogs and armored personnel carriers and began searching an 8- to 10-square-mile (21- to 26-square-kilometer) area of rolling farm country, forests and parkland northwest of Philadelphia.
—Maryclaire Dale and Marc Levy, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2023
Take the arm opposite to the front leg up overhead, and use it to bend your body away from the front leg.
Sets and reps: Hold this position for about 30 seconds for a total of 3 rounds.
—Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 7 Sep. 2023
Add candles, twinkling lights hung overhead, and all your closest friends and family for a perfect night spent in the crisp autumn air.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2023
Sirens sounded, helicopters circled overhead and rifle-toting police walked through her yard.
—Maryclaire Dale and Marc Levy, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2023
Tiny pyramids built into the fabric are designed to deflect sunlight, much like the leaves of a tree overhead — or similar tiny pyramids on the skin of the Saharan silver ant.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2023
Adjective
Then there was a 22-yard catch in the third quarter in which Books adjusted his body in midair to haul in an overhead pass.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2023
Each train also includes a quiet car in which passengers are asked to limit conversation, phone calls are not allowed, and low overhead lighting is used.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2023
Additionally, switch off any lamps or overhead lighting when not in use or the space is unoccupied.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2023
An area rug and overhead lighting set the stage for cozy autumn nights.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2023
The utility also doesn’t have to spend as much to maintain overhead wires and to constantly clear brush around equipment.
—Matt Simon, WIRED, 1 Sep. 2023
The surface of this fabric consists of a pattern that absorbs overhead light, while the bottom layer enhances the strength of the projection.
—Popular Mechanics, 29 Aug. 2023
An overhead water system mists to mimic the wet weather of Kauai’s forests.
—Dino Grandoni, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Aug. 2023
This pendant light is adaptable to sloped ceilings, has an adjustable height, and can be dimmed to deliver the perfect overhead glow day or night.
—Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2023
Noun
Nothing was firm yet, but Clearview was small with low overhead.
—Kashmir Hill, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2023
Gauff scrambled to get Sabalenka’s strokes back, including somehow deflecting a booming overhead, before a second, unreachable overhead bounced into the seats.
—Howard Fendrich, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Sep. 2023
Gauff scrambled to keep getting Sabalenka's strokes back over the net, including somehow deflecting a booming overhead on the run, before a second, unreachable overhead bounced off the ground and into the stands.
—CBS News, 9 Sep. 2023
Gauff scrambled to keep getting Sabalenka’s strokes back over the net, including somehow deflecting a booming overhead on the run, before a second, unreachable overhead bounced off the ground and into the stands.
—Howard Fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023
The room is lit by four fluorescent circular fixtures overhead, which reflect off the white lacquered surface of a large conference table like ring lights off a pupil.
—Lauren Larson, Men's Health, 7 Sep. 2023
Overall deals typically pay overhead for a writer’s company and fund the development of projects.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 6 Sep. 2023
With prices that are on average 30% to 50% lower than other e-commerce sites and retailers, even small business owners have come to buy their supplies from Temu to save on overheads.
—Molly Peck, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2023
After stumbling through the explanation for the 6.0-liter W-12 with its dual overhead cams, 626 horses, and 664 pound-feet of torque, attention turned to the various features and controls in the spacious back seat.
—Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 5 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overhead.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing overhead
Dictionary Entries Near overhead
Cite this Entry
“Overhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overhead. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
overhead
1 of 3 adverb
over·head
ˌō-vər-ˈhed
: above one's head : aloft
geese flying overhead
overhead
2 of 3 adjective
over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed
1
: operating or lying above
an overhead door
2
: of or relating to business expense
overhead
3 of 3 noun
over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed
1
: general business expenses (as rent, heat, or insurance)
2
: a stroke in a racket game made above head height : smash
Legal Definition
overhead
noun
over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed
: business expenses (as rent or insurance) not chargeable to a particular part of the work or product
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