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

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

Etymology

Origin of overall

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

Example Sentences

With the county’s overall population at roughly 10 million, undocumented residents represent nearly 1 in 10 people, Adams noted.

From Los Angeles Times

“Almost every European country, with the exception of Nazi Germany,” he writes, “boasted a larger number of Communists as a proportion of their overall population than any province in China.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But analyst Simon Fitzgerald was disappointed by the overall composition of the result.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The Nancy Guthrie case has triggered some of those feelings in the community, but overall our community is viewing this as a unique situation.”

From The Wall Street Journal

If they are overall shrinking, that could be a sign investors are souring on not only bitcoin but perhaps also the broader digital-asset ecosystem.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• comprehensive
• global
• long-term