overcast

[oh-ver-kast, -kahst, oh-ver-kast, -kahst, oh-ver-kast, -kahst, oh-ver-kast, -kahst, oh-ver-kast, -kahst]

adjective

1. overspread or covered with clouds; cloudy.

   an overcast day.

2. Meteorology.,  (of the sky) more than 95 percent covered by clouds.

3. dark; gloomy.

4. Sewing.,  sewn by overcasting.

verb (used with object)

overcast, overcasting 

1. to overcloud, darken, or make gloomy.

   Ominous clouds began to overcast the sky.

2. to sew with stitches passing successively over an edge, especially long stitches set at intervals to prevent raveling.

verb (used without object)

overcast, overcasting 

1. to become cloudy or dark.

   By noon it had begun to overcast.

noun

1. Meteorology.,  the condition of the sky when more than 95 percent covered by clouds.

2. Mining.,  a crossing of two passages, as airways, dug at the same level, in which one rises to pass over the other without opening into it.

overcast

adjective

1. covered over or obscured, esp by clouds

2. meteorol (of the sky) more than 95 per cent cloud-covered

3. gloomy or melancholy

4. sewn over by overcasting

verb

1. to make or become overclouded or gloomy

2. to sew (an edge, as of a hem) with long stitches passing successively over the edge

noun

1. a covering, as of clouds or mist

2. meteorol the state of the sky when more than 95 per cent of it is cloud-covered

3. mining a crossing of two passages without an intersection

Word History and Origins

Origin of overcast¹

1175–1225; Middle English (v.); over-, cast

Example Sentences

Holders Australia, who are unbeaten at the tournament and favourites, made two changes in overcast conditions on the outskirts of Mumbai at DY Patil Stadium.

Read more on Barron's

On the Mall, near the Reflecting Pool, the breeze and overcast skies were somehow comforting and inviting.

Read more on Salon

It was an overcast Sunday in June, the WeHo Pride parade was in full swing and the hit song about an iconic West Hollywood gay bar was blasting at full volume.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

ALTADENA, Calif.—On a recent overcast morning, a group of investors surveyed one of their newly purchased, wildfire-scorched land plots, when a silver-haired woman approached.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Shasta and it was cloudy and overcast the day of Travizano’s fall.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dismal 
• dreary 
• dull 
• hazy 
• leaden 
• murky