overhead

American  

[oh-ver-hed, oh-ver-hed] / ˈoʊ vərˈhɛd, ˈoʊ vərˌhɛd /

adverb

1. over one's head; aloft; up in the air or sky, especially near the zenith.

   There was a cloud overhead.

2. so as to be completely submerged or deeply involved.

   to plunge overhead in water; to sink overhead in debt.

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adjective

1. situated, operating, or passing above, aloft, or over the head.

   an overhead sprinkler system.

2. of or relating to the general cost of running a business.

   overhead expenses; an overhead charge.

noun

• overheads
  plural

1. the general, fixed cost of running a business, as rent, lighting, and heating expenses, which cannot be charged or attributed to a specific product or part of the work operation.

2. Accounting. that part of manufacturing costs for which cost per unit produced is not readily assignable.

3. (in a hoistway) the distance between the last floor level served and the beam supporting the hoisting sheaves or machinery.

4. (in racket sports) a stroke in which the ball or shuttlecock is hit with a downward motion from above the head; smash.

5. an overhead compartment, shelf, etc..

   Pillows are in the overhead above each passenger's seat.

6. Also called overhead shot. Movies, Television. a shot in which the camera is positioned above the actors, especially directly overhead.

7. a ceiling light in a room.

   Turn off the overheads when you leave.

8. Also called overhead projector. a projector capable of projecting images above and behind the person operating it, thus allowing a lecturer or speaker to remain facing the audience while using it.

9. Also called overhead projection. a picture or image projected in this manner.

   a lecture enhanced with overheads.

overhead British  

adjective

1. situated or operating above head height or some other reference level

2. (prenominal) inclusive

   the overhead price included meals

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adverb

1. over or above head height, esp in the sky

noun

1. 1. a stroke in racket games played from above head height

   2. ( as modifier )

      an overhead smash

2. nautical the interior lining above one's head below decks in a vessel

3. short for overhead door

4. (modifier) of, concerned with, or resulting from overheads

   overhead costs

overhead Cultural  

1. All costs of running a business other than wages paid to production workers or payments for raw material to be used in production. Overhead includes the cost of renting or leasing a store in which business is transacted, the cost of heating a factory, and similar expenses.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonoverhead
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• overheads
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of overhead

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at over-, head

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Explanation

Anything that's located above you is overhead — it’s literally over your head. An overhead compartment on an airplane is a good place to stash your carry-on suitcase. Overhead is also the money it takes to run a business. Overhead works as both an adjective and an adverb: "An overhead view of the football field gives the spectators a better idea of the game, and a drone flying overhead is the perfect way to achieve it." There's also an overhead stroke in tennis, an overhead projector showing a movie in science class, and the overhead, or up-front expenses, that a new business requires.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

overhead overheads

Cyclists use one side of the four-lane highway while pedestrians stroll the other, often with pelican formations flying overhead.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

Rail passengers are being urged to check before they travel due to overhead line problems on the West Coast Main Line in Staffordshire.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

Automotive gross profit, what car sales earn before research, overhead and new investment, therefore cannot be treated as a budget for AI.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

The wedge-shaped footprint, built to the maximum allowable area, features a ground-level studio with 16-foot-high ceilings, clerestory windows and an overhead skylight to allow for natural light.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

“White-winged, and fast as the wind. They migrate, each summer, to the south. I saw them flying overhead once—enough of them to carpet the sky.”

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Instead, people were turning towards cheaper, unlicensed hire services which did not pay the same overheads, he said.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

VW's costs are about 20 percent higher than competitors', Blume said, adding that overheads need to be cut to a "competitive level".

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

And in this case, the marginal cost of each ticket is small – there are not even any very substantial overheads to cover, which often justify a higher price.

From Salon ● Jun. 14, 2026

Letting out spare factory space helps struggling European carmakers cover their high overheads.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

So I really try to focus on the lesson, but I’m having trouble keeping up with Ms. Rucker’s overheads.

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

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Related Words

• aerial
• atop
• skyward
• upward

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