overhand

American

[oh-ver-hand] / ˈoʊ vərˌhænd /

adjective

thrown or performed with the hand raised over the shoulder; overarm.

overhand stroke.
with the hand and part or all of the arm raised above the shoulder.

to pitch overhand.
(in sewing and embroidery) with close, shallow stitches over two edges.

adverb

with the hand over the object.

to grasp one's fork overhand.

noun

an overhand stroke, throw, or delivery.

verb (used with object)

to sew overhand.

overhand British

/ ˈəʊvəˌhænd /

adjective

thrown or performed with the hand raised above the shoulder
sewn with thread passing over two edges in one direction

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

with the hand above the shoulder; overarm
with shallow stitches passing over two edges

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

to sew (two edges) overhand

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of overhand

First recorded in 1860–65; over- + hand

Vocabulary lists containing overhand

Physical Education - Introductory

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Physical Education - Middle School and High School

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Momentum swung again in the third when a Wardley overhand right sent Dubois wobbling.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

Lesch’s delivery had one major flaw: He threw directly overhand, as opposed to three-quarters or even sidearm, which can increase velocity but also places additional strain on the shoulder and elbow.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

In a fifth round that lit up Brooklyn's Barclays Center, Smith stood toe-to-toe with the heavy-handed Puerto Rican and dropped him with a looping overhand right.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2026

Cyborg launched a couple of big overhand rights in the closing stages but as the bell rang, both fighters raised their arms in the air, believing they had done enough to secure victory.

From BBC • Oct. 19, 2024

Then he tossed the ship up and spiked it overhand like a volleyball.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023