overall

American  

[oh-ver-awl, oh-ver-awl] / ˈoʊ vərˈɔl, ˈoʊ vərˌɔl /

adverb

1. from one extreme limit of a thing to the other.

   the overall length of the bridge.

2. covering or including everything.

   an overall impression;

   to view something overall.

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noun

• overalls
  plural

1. (used with a plural verb) overalls,

   1. loose, sturdy trousers, usually with a bib or biblike piece to which shoulder straps are attached, originally worn over other trousers to protect them, as by factory workers or farmers.

   2. long waterproof leggings.

2. British. a smock or loose-fitting housedress.

overall British  

adjective

1. from one end to the other

2. including or covering everything

   the overall cost

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adverb

1. in general; on the whole

noun

1. a protective work garment usually worn over ordinary clothes

2. (plural) hard-wearing work trousers with a bib and shoulder straps or jacket attached

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• overalls
  plural

Etymology

Origin of overall

First recorded before 1000; Middle English overal (adverb), Old English ofer eall; see over ( def. ), all ( def. )

Explanation

The overall meaning of the word overall is that it covers all the parts of something. For example, the individual parts don't matter as much as the overall value. The word overall is the sum of its parts. Take the word over, meaning "above," and add it to the word all, meaning "everything" and you get overall, meaning "above everything". But remember, it's an adjective as in the overall impression of the music, the overall effect of the new tax code, the overall direction (as opposed to individual little changes.) Remember that overalls, the clothes you wore as a kid, went "over all" your other clothes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

overall overalls

The northern route is "a temporary and minuscule solution with regards to the overall needs", De Ricqles said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

Their size, spacing and overall form can vary depending on the animal's surroundings and feeding method.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026

But overall comparable sales growth of 2.6% was the smallest quarterly increase since 2020, as shoppers continued to spend cautiously, The Wall Street Journal’s Sarah Nassauer writes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

July in fact, Snider points out, was “one of the sharpest hedge fund de-grossing episodes in the last decade,” when funds reduced the overall size of their trading books rather than just net exposure.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

I felt as if overall we’d been doing a pretty excellent job.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

The ruling means drivers can use a mandated cooling kit that flows cooled liquid, such as glycol, through a system of pipes in a fireproof top worn under their overalls.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

Another man was dressed in overalls in star-spangled colors while one couple wore large and seemingly uncomfortable bald eagle heads, topped by red, white and blue cloth stovepipe hats.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026

The large man in blue overalls is contracted to the UAE-based Atlas Agri, one of the biggest of 44 registered merchants and contractors in the southern African country.

From Barron's ● May 15, 2026

Domingo arrives in the club’s lush courtyard garden sporting an olive-colored quilted Moncler padded shirt jacket over black bib Carhartt overalls and a black Valentino T-shirt, with a red neckerchief.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 10, 2026

The overalls were filthy and as Jake recognized them they aroused in him a whirl of sudden memories from the past week.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

Related Words

• comprehensive
• global
• long-term