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.
In an overview of U.S. semiconductors, Arya noted the demand environment is mixed, with relative strength coming from data centers and artificial intelligence along with the aerospace and defense sectors.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
When provided separately with an overview of the story via text to his phone, he responded simply: “Can talk after 3/31.”
From Salon • Mar. 30, 2026
Many advisers offer a free introductory meeting to provide a general overview of how they’d manage your money.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026
The latest edition of the prominent, often controversial survey of American art is an aimless overview that offers little memorable work.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026
For a comprehensive audiovisual overview of jazz, try Ken Burns' PBS documentary.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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.
