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
Emily Baumgaertner, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
In the present day, much of that experience persists, although planes fly overhead more frequently.
—Will McCarthy, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
Below, from 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern time, temperatures fell in the Northeast as the eclipse passed overhead and rose in and around Texas as sunlight returned.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
For over a year, the city of Burlington had meticulously planned for the moment the moon’s shadow passed overhead.
—Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2024
Thick gray clouds scudded overhead, dumping flakes and dusting everything with a fresh coat of powder.
—Michael Charboneau, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
The suitcase is also easy to open and close (even when stuffed full) and lift overhead, thanks to the lightweight design.
—Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2024
Gaming was a non-factor on earlier Snapdragon designs, and Qualcomm notes that the vast majority of games will still need to run through an emulation mode, which will presumably assert its own performance overhead.
—John Burek, PCMAG, 6 Apr. 2024
Patches of thicker and thinner cloud cover could take turns moving overhead during the duration of the eclipse, so there’s hope for some clearing compared to an overcast sky.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Eduardo Medina Eduardo Medina, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
In another video recently shared to TikTok, a Tesla driver showed how his overhead console had fallen down, and was unable to be put back in place.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024
Wythe’s Studebaker only has 45,000 miles on the original overhead six-cylinder engine with a three-speed transmission plus overdrive.
—David Krumboltz, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
The closure will allow crews to continue placing an overhead sign structure that spans all lanes of traffic.
—Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
By staying in Duluth rather than defecting to New York or Seattle (or even Minneapolis), Parker and Sparhawk were able to keep their overhead low.
—Justin Taylor, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
Passengers flying with a carry-on pet, however, will not be able to bring a large carry-on item that fits in the overhead bin and a personal item at the same time, and must choose one or the other.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024
Also, check and modify irrigation and curtail overhead watering.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Images of a solar eclipse projected through the gaps in overhead leaves.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
Khader Al Za'anoun, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
A couple of changes at home can lower your overhead and ease financial stress.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
Small businesses—by necessity—rarely run with excess overhead and are naturally more efficient than large enterprises, even when economic conditions are positive.
—Eyal Lifshitz, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The budget includes $58.3 million for 38 new buses, including 10 battery-electric and 28 compressed natural gas, and $38.8 million for overhead charging infrastructure at each existing division.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024
The sets by David Rockwell alternate between Aloysius’s office and a church courtyard, and when combined with Linda Cho’s costumes, Kenneth Posner’s lighting, and the subject matter itself, everything feels dark and grey — like a permanent cloud hovering overhead.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2024
Look for bargains, keep your overhead low and proceed with a strict budget.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
The entry has a 4x4’ plate overhead, just big enough so that two people can stand under it during a rainstorm, staying dry while fumbling for keys.
—Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024
The video then cuts to clips of DeGeneres doing multiple pull-ups, a single-hand overhead press, and pushing a training sled.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 27 Jan. 2024
Adverb
Image Image At 8:13 p.m., the site was silent again, except for power lines buzzing overhead and dogs cooing their evening songs on the Mexico side.
—Emily Baumgaertner, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
In the present day, much of that experience persists, although planes fly overhead more frequently.
—Will McCarthy, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
Below, from 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern time, temperatures fell in the Northeast as the eclipse passed overhead and rose in and around Texas as sunlight returned.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
For over a year, the city of Burlington had meticulously planned for the moment the moon’s shadow passed overhead.
—Riley Robinson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2024
Thick gray clouds scudded overhead, dumping flakes and dusting everything with a fresh coat of powder.
—Michael Charboneau, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
The suitcase is also easy to open and close (even when stuffed full) and lift overhead, thanks to the lightweight design.
—Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2024
Gaming was a non-factor on earlier Snapdragon designs, and Qualcomm notes that the vast majority of games will still need to run through an emulation mode, which will presumably assert its own performance overhead.
—John Burek, PCMAG, 6 Apr. 2024
Patches of thicker and thinner cloud cover could take turns moving overhead during the duration of the eclipse, so there’s hope for some clearing compared to an overcast sky.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Greenville is big enough for Broadway shows and rooftop bars, but people still often see their neighbors downtown, where a pedestrian bridge gives an overhead view of the Reedy River Falls.
—Eduardo Medina Eduardo Medina, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
In another video recently shared to TikTok, a Tesla driver showed how his overhead console had fallen down, and was unable to be put back in place.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024
Wythe’s Studebaker only has 45,000 miles on the original overhead six-cylinder engine with a three-speed transmission plus overdrive.
—David Krumboltz, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
The closure will allow crews to continue placing an overhead sign structure that spans all lanes of traffic.
—Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
By staying in Duluth rather than defecting to New York or Seattle (or even Minneapolis), Parker and Sparhawk were able to keep their overhead low.
—Justin Taylor, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
Passengers flying with a carry-on pet, however, will not be able to bring a large carry-on item that fits in the overhead bin and a personal item at the same time, and must choose one or the other.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024
Also, check and modify irrigation and curtail overhead watering.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Images of a solar eclipse projected through the gaps in overhead leaves.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
Palestinian children observed wearily, with the sound of Israeli aircraft buzzing overhead.
—Khader Al Za'anoun, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
A couple of changes at home can lower your overhead and ease financial stress.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
Small businesses—by necessity—rarely run with excess overhead and are naturally more efficient than large enterprises, even when economic conditions are positive.
—Eyal Lifshitz, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The budget includes $58.3 million for 38 new buses, including 10 battery-electric and 28 compressed natural gas, and $38.8 million for overhead charging infrastructure at each existing division.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024
The sets by David Rockwell alternate between Aloysius’s office and a church courtyard, and when combined with Linda Cho’s costumes, Kenneth Posner’s lighting, and the subject matter itself, everything feels dark and grey — like a permanent cloud hovering overhead.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2024
Look for bargains, keep your overhead low and proceed with a strict budget.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
The entry has a 4x4’ plate overhead, just big enough so that two people can stand under it during a rainstorm, staying dry while fumbling for keys.
—Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024
The video then cuts to clips of DeGeneres doing multiple pull-ups, a single-hand overhead press, and pushing a training sled.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 27 Jan. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near overhead
Cite this Entry
“Overhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overhead. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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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