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

ETF industry has seen 953 fund launches overall this year through July 23 — putting it on pace to exceed the record 1,095 launches seen last year.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

While that figure is higher than most, school districts’ fixed costs have been found to be a third of overall district costs at minimum, and generally higher.

From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026

The retailer said it has been adversely affected by the scrapping in 2025 of a tariff exemption for low-value goods entering the U.S., leading to an increase in fulfillment expenses and weighing on overall revenues.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

It has been downloaded 12 million times in 2026 alone, according to director Jessie Barry - who says it has had 42 million downloads overall.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

I usually came second or third in the end of term overall results.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall

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

One morning in July 1992, Raynella said, she found him dead in their cattle corral, a hoofprint on the chest of his overalls, apparently knocked down and trampled as he fed the herd.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

His hands were bound with plastic cable ties and he was wearing orange overalls and a black face mask.

From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2026

Far below the cabin, hundreds of workers in overalls, helmets and protective goggles are busy at work.

From Barron's ● Mar. 7, 2026

When he had come into the place that evening he wore those blue overalls instead of the filthy linen suit he had been wearing the twelve days.

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

Related Words

• comprehensive
• global
• long-term