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

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

From Los Angeles Times

They’re at the park on this overcast Sunday morning to learn leash skills.

From Los Angeles Times

Frost is a frequent visitor overnight, and the days are often overcast.

From BBC

In the top of the sixth inning at Coors Field on Tuesday night, Muncy was at the plate with two out and two runners aboard when a sudden rainstorm opened up from overcast skies.

From Los Angeles Times

In England when it's overcast, the ball seems to do a bit more.

From BBC

Related Words

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