overall

Sayoh-vur-AWLUS/ˌoʊvɚˈɔl/UK/ˌəʊvəɹˈɔːl/

As a nounOH-vur-awl

Noun pluraloveralls

4 meanings of overall

1
of the wholeadjective
Including all the parts or everything, not just some of it.
Like the total you get when you add up every part together.
The overall cost of the project was higher than we expected.
Her overall health improved a lot after the surgery.
UsageUsually goes before a noun: the overall cost.
Similargeneral, total, whole, comprehensive, global
Oppositepartial, specific, particular
Note
2
all in alladverb
When you look at everything together, not just one part.
Like stepping back to see the whole picture instead of one small piece.
Overall, the school trip went really well.
The team started badly, but overall they had a great season.
UsageUsually comes first, with a comma after it: Overall, …
Similargenerally, altogether, broadly
3
bib work pantsnounUSusually plural
Work pants with a part that covers the chest, held up by straps over the shoulders.
Like pants joined to a chest cover, held up by straps.
He hooked the loose overall strap back over his shoulder.
She bought new overalls for working in the garden.
UsageLike pants: overalls are, a pair of overalls. One overall is mostly used before another word, as in overall strap.
Similardungarees

Less common meaning

4
nounBritishcountable
Something you wear over your other clothes to keep them clean while you work.
Mum put on an old overall before she painted the kitchen.
At the factory, she wore a blue overall over her own clothes.
UsageYou can say an overall for one coat. In American English, overalls usually means work pants with straps.
Similarcoverall, smock

Practice

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Origin

From Old English 'ofer eall', meaning 'over all'. It is made from 'over' plus 'all'.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

Overall derives from Old English ofer eall, meaning 'over all', and combines over and all. en.wiktionary.org