overhaul

[ verb oh-ver-hawl, oh-ver-hawl; noun oh-ver-hawl ]

verb (used with object)

1. to make necessary repairs on; restore to serviceable condition:

   My car was overhauled by an expert mechanic.

2. to investigate or examine thoroughly for repair or revision:

   Next year we're going to overhaul the curriculum.

3. to gain upon, catch up with, or overtake, as in a race.
4. to haul or turn over for examination.
5. Nautical.
   1. to slacken (a rope) by hauling in the opposite direction to that in which the rope was drawn taut.
   2. to release the blocks of (a tackle).

noun

1. Also over·hauling. a general examination and repair:

   The state roads were badly in need of a major overhaul.

overhaul

verb

1. to examine carefully for faults, necessary repairs, etc
2. to make repairs or adjustments to (a car, machine, etc)
3. to overtake

noun

1. a thorough examination and repair

Other Words From

• over·hauler noun
• uno·ver·hauled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overhaul¹

First recorded in 1620–30; over- + haul

Example Sentences

Caserio and Culley have said they don’t plan to accommodate the trade request made by quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is said to be upset that the team did not follow through on pledges to consider his input on the offseason overhaul.

From Washington Post

One of the internet’s primary protections is on the verge of an overhaul.

From Digiday

The overhaul in education policy is the biggest effort by a state to reshape public education since Massachusetts — now considered to have the top-performing school system in the country — passed legislation more than 30 years ago.

From Washington Post

General Manager Nick Caserio told reporters he has “zero interest” in moving on from Watson, who requested a trade after the Texans offered to give him input into their organizational overhaul this offseason but then didn’t follow through.

From Washington Post

Either way, a defensive overhaul with less than $12 million in cap space is going to be difficult to pull off.

From Washington Post

Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Brown seems to believe that this is simply another example of a systemic overhaul.

From The Daily Beast

Other reforms would include a major overhaul of the tax system, particularly equalizing capital gains and income taxes.

From The Daily Beast

Can a radical overhaul salvage this once gripping spectacle?

From The Daily Beast

Without a complete overhaul of the opiate world, he worries it will continue.

From The Daily Beast

Dysfunction in the VA scheduling system has been the target of watchdog reports for years—without prompting an overhaul.

From The Daily Beast

But if a reform party does achieve power, if only for a term, the first thing for it to do is to overhaul the ballot system.

From Project Gutenberg

They knew that we were not many minutes ahead, and trusted to overhaul us before the express train could be safely passed.

From Project Gutenberg

However, it was quite true that she could overhaul the Spray—only give her time enough, and provided no accident should happen.

From Project Gutenberg

In pretty good spirits she set to work to overhaul our wardrobe, and prepare everything for packing.

From Project Gutenberg

At the pace the pony was going they were able to overhaul the herd in a short time.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fix
• improve
• modernize
• rebuild
• reconstruct
• reexamine
• renew
• repair
• revamp