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

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Etymology

Origin of overall

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

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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

Despite those differences, the overall pattern was remarkably consistent.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026

Arino and other observers questioned by AFP said the overall picture for France's tourism industry would depend on whether new violence broke out in the coming weeks.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

That weighting method resulted in smaller reported overall differences between the large providers and the comparison groups than would result from using raw averages or weighting by beneficiaries served.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Moody holds the overall advantage, with a total haul of more than $14 million, and has so far outspent Nixon by 32 to 1.

From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026

I’m not talking here about racial differences in overall crime rates.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Last year, Netflix flew the 77-year-old from his home in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, to Brisbane, Australia, where he once again donned a green wig and overalls for the TV competition Wonka's The Golden Ticket.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Bex is starting to look for overalls for them to wear and jokes that they might need shower caps for their hair.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

Wearing overalls and a cap emblazoned with "Billionaire's Boys Club", he expresses profound regret over the seven years he has worked as a goon.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 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

Mr. Leadill turned to Eugene Hammond, who wore a mechanic’s overalls over his houndstooth suit.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

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Related Words

• comprehensive
• global
• long-term

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