Illustration of overall
- overall 1b
over·all
ˌō-vər-ˈȯl 
1
: all over sense 1
the pattern used overall
2
: from one end to the other
600 feet long overall
3
a
: in view of all the circumstances or conditions
overall, the sale was a success
b
: as a whole : generally
doesn't do as well overall
overall and in most of its detail the film has remarkable power—
Time
Time
c
: with everyone or everything taken into account
was third overall in earnings
got 31 miles to the gallon overall
over·all
ˈō-vər-ˌȯl
1
a
b
usually overalls
: trousers of strong material usually with a bib and shoulder straps
2
chiefly British
: a loose-fitting protective smock worn over regular clothing
over·all
ˌō-vər-ˈȯl
ˈō-vər-ˌȯl
ˈō-vər-ˌȯl
1
: including everything
2
: viewed as a whole : general
Synonyms
Examples of overall in a Sentence
Adverb
He made a few mistakes but did well overall.
Overall, the project was successful.
Adjective
your overall score after two rounds
His mistake didn't change my overall impression of him.
Your overall health is sound.
She likes the overall quality of the product.
The scratch didn't affect the car's overall appearance.
Recent Examples on the WebThuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
The Indiana Fever will take her with the first pick overall in the 2024 draft.
—Sean Gregory, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
Too many fruits on a branch make for small fruits overall.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
What is different about this seventh season on ABC, season 22 overall, compared to past years?
—Fred Bronson, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024
Sales of new vehicles overall grew nearly 5%, and the EV market share declined to 7.1%.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
The back has a convenient drop-in pocket, and overall, these pants fit just like leggings, but have a light flare at the bottom that gives them a more relaxed fit, reminiscent of yoga pants from the 2010s.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
The trailhead is marked with a sign, and overall, the path up the mountain is easy to follow.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
Job satisfaction for workers overall increased by around 3% between 2023 and 2024, according to MetLife’s 2024 Employee Benefit Trends Study.
—Azure Gilman, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
Wearing blue overalls and a yellow and blue shirt, Jason was last seen around 2 p.m. on the front porch of his apartment complex at 939 N. 32nd St., according to previous Idaho Statesman reporting.
—Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 5 Apr. 2024
Nebraska currently awards three of its five Electoral College votes based on the results of its three congressional districts; the other two votes are awarded based on whomever wins the state overall.
—Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Later, the family posed together dressed in their Sunday best, with the boys adorably smiling in matching Burberry overalls.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
While Diane was still active, the couple had a ball donning overalls and building and fiddling with off-road vehicles that Barnett raced on dirt tracks.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
The Chiefs have pick No. 252 overall in the seventh round.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024
It’s been another banner year for Tennessee, which claimed its sixth outright regular season SEC title and 11th overall.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2024
In his senior season of 1965–66, Wesley averaged 20.7 points and grabbed a career-best 9.3 rebounds per game as the Jayhawks won the Big Eight championship and went 23-4 overall.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2024
Alicia Wallace, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The rooms have themes, but these are subordinate to the show’s overall flow, which focuses on pairings and dialogues.
—Kriston Capps, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Together, the cost of housing and gas accounted for more than half the monthly increase in overall prices
Rent increased 0.4% in March, easing slightly from the prior month but the latest in a flurry of hefty gains.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
As the weather has gotten warmer in Ukraine and the heating season is over, the country is still not generating enough power to meet the overall demand from consumers, meaning there are rolling power cuts for millions of people in several regions.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
In San Diego, for example, Black people account for almost 25 percent of the unsheltered population, or 4.5 times their number among the overall population, the audit said.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Former Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery was a hardline, law-and-order politician who critics described as overall punitive.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2024
In her permanent role, Tang will need to tackle the mandate to expand readership and navigate a punishing overall media landscape.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
This approach not only promotes financial wellness but also aligns with the evolving needs of employees in managing their overall financial security.
—Brian Menickella, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Collier, the No. 1 recruit in the country last season, was projected to go as high as first overall in the NBA draft before sitting out four weeks of the season because of a broken hand.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
The Indiana Fever will take her with the first pick overall in the 2024 draft.
—Sean Gregory, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
Too many fruits on a branch make for small fruits overall.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
What is different about this seventh season on ABC, season 22 overall, compared to past years?
—Fred Bronson, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024
Sales of new vehicles overall grew nearly 5%, and the EV market share declined to 7.1%.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
The back has a convenient drop-in pocket, and overall, these pants fit just like leggings, but have a light flare at the bottom that gives them a more relaxed fit, reminiscent of yoga pants from the 2010s.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
The trailhead is marked with a sign, and overall, the path up the mountain is easy to follow.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024
Job satisfaction for workers overall increased by around 3% between 2023 and 2024, according to MetLife’s 2024 Employee Benefit Trends Study.
—Azure Gilman, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
Luka Garza, a 6-10 traditional post and national player of the year after averaging 24.1 points for Iowa, was drafted 52nd overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2021.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
Wearing blue overalls and a yellow and blue shirt, Jason was last seen around 2 p.m. on the front porch of his apartment complex at 939 N. 32nd St., according to previous Idaho Statesman reporting.
—Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 5 Apr. 2024
Nebraska currently awards three of its five Electoral College votes based on the results of its three congressional districts; the other two votes are awarded based on whomever wins the state overall.
—Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2024
Later, the family posed together dressed in their Sunday best, with the boys adorably smiling in matching Burberry overalls.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
While Diane was still active, the couple had a ball donning overalls and building and fiddling with off-road vehicles that Barnett raced on dirt tracks.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
The Chiefs have pick No. 252 overall in the seventh round.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024
It’s been another banner year for Tennessee, which claimed its sixth outright regular season SEC title and 11th overall.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2024
In his senior season of 1965–66, Wesley averaged 20.7 points and grabbed a career-best 9.3 rebounds per game as the Jayhawks won the Big Eight championship and went 23-4 overall.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The services excluding shelter index continued to outpace overall inflation, rising 0.5% for the month and 5.3% for the year, according to the report.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The rooms have themes, but these are subordinate to the show’s overall flow, which focuses on pairings and dialogues.
—Kriston Capps, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Together, the cost of housing and gas accounted for more than half the monthly increase in overall prices
Rent increased 0.4% in March, easing slightly from the prior month but the latest in a flurry of hefty gains.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
As the weather has gotten warmer in Ukraine and the heating season is over, the country is still not generating enough power to meet the overall demand from consumers, meaning there are rolling power cuts for millions of people in several regions.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
In San Diego, for example, Black people account for almost 25 percent of the unsheltered population, or 4.5 times their number among the overall population, the audit said.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Former Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery was a hardline, law-and-order politician who critics described as overall punitive.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2024
In her permanent role, Tang will need to tackle the mandate to expand readership and navigate a punishing overall media landscape.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
This approach not only promotes financial wellness but also aligns with the evolving needs of employees in managing their overall financial security.
—Brian Menickella, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overall.' 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 overall
Dictionary Entries Near overall
Cite this Entry
“Overall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overall. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
overall
1 of 2 adverb
over·all
ˌō-və-ˈrȯl
: as a whole : generally
we find your work satisfactory, overall
overall
2 of 2 adjectiveˌō-və-ˈrȯl,
ˈō-və-ˌrȯl
1
: including everything
overall expenses
2
: viewed as a whole : general
More from Merriam-Webster on overall
Nglish: Translation of overall for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of overall for Arabic Speakers
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