overhead

1 of 3

adverb

over·​head ˌō-vər-ˈhed How to pronounce overhead (audio)
: above one's head : aloft

overhead

2 of 3

adjective

over·​head ˈō-vər-ˌhed How to pronounce overhead (audio)
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 How to pronounce overhead (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
Witness reported seeing missiles flying overhead, raising fears of a direct escalation in the region. Amanda Castro hannah Parry shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025 Using 14 low-cost cameras, the researchers were able to track satellites passing overhead on the evening of Feb. 22, 2025, compiling them into a long-exposure image to show the total activity for the evening. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 20 June 2025
Adjective
Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2025 Conditions for whitetails deteriorated because the overhead canopy formed by large trees prevented the growth of the low brush that is ideal deer habitat. Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 26 June 2025
Noun
Two additional images emphasize aerial support: one depicts marshals on a snowy plain pointing toward a King County Sheriff’s helicopter overhead, while another aerial shot shows a chopper flying low above a turquoise lake, with searchers visible below. Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025 By offloading tasks like contextual rephrasing to a lightweight LLM, teams preserved conversational quality while cutting unnecessary overhead. Alan Nichol, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for overhead

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of overhead was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overhead. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

overhead

1 of 3 adverb
over·​head ˌō-vər-ˈhed How to pronounce overhead (audio)
: above one's head : aloft
geese flying overhead

overhead

2 of 3 adjective
over·​head ˈō-vər-ˌhed How to pronounce overhead (audio)
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 How to pronounce overhead (audio)
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 How to pronounce overhead (audio)
: business expenses (as rent or insurance) not chargeable to a particular part of the work or product

More from Merriam-Webster on overhead

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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