overhead

1 of 3

adverb

over·​head ˌō-vər-ˈhed 

: above one's head : aloft

overhead

2 of 3

adjective

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

overhead

3 of 3

noun

over·​head ˈō-vər-ˌhed 

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

Adverb

• above
• aloft
• over

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

Adding more CPUs only gets you so far, as scaling the cluster exponentially increases node-to-node communication overhead — creating performance, power, and cost barriers. —Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025

Float in the warm water while looking up through the skylights directly overhead to experience peak tranquility. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2025

Adjective

Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2025

Delta aims to provide dedicated overhead bin space for every passenger, more accessible seating and lavatories and fewer rows to create a less crowded environment. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2025

Noun

These traits can help facilitate integration into existing legal teams and enhance productivity and quality while reducing the overhead typically associated with domestic hiring. —Jens Erik Gould, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

Continue the arc with both arms until the dumbbells reach one another overhead. —Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 20 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing overhead

• overhead projector

Rhymes for overhead

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• gingerbread
• hammerhead
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead

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