overview
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of overview
Explanation
An overview is a general summary of something. An overview gives the big picture, while leaving out the minor details. If you take a class on American history, the class will be an overview: it will sum up the most important events that have happened, such as famous elections, national disasters, major wars, and economic trends. When writing an overview, you have to leave out a lot of details, because you're focusing on major points. You can give an overview of a company's business, of a sport team's season, or even of your own life.
Vocabulary lists containing overview
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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"Creativity at Work" and "The Hidden Secrets of the Creative Mind"
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Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 8
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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.
The influence of “Our Town” is evident in the play’s existential overview.
From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026
TikTok says it has identified the cause of AI overview errors and inconsistencies, without detailing what this was.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
Until now, the EU has lacked a detailed overview of strategic fuel stocks across member states.
From Barron's • May 7, 2026
Our critic praised it as “a revelatory overview of a remarkable woman’s long working life.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
After her husband opened the convention, she explained the purpose of the gathering and offered a brief overview of the status of women around the world.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
