Illustration of overall
- overall 1b
over·all
ˌō-vər-ˈȯl 
1
: all over sense 1
the pattern used overall
2
: from one end to the other
600 feet long overall
3
a
: in view of all the circumstances or conditions
overall, the sale was a success
b
: as a whole : generally
doesn't do as well overall
overall and in most of its detail the film has remarkable power—
Time
Time
c
: with everyone or everything taken into account
was third overall in earnings
got 31 miles to the gallon overall
over·all
ˈō-vər-ˌȯl
1
a
b
usually overalls
: trousers of strong material usually with a bib and shoulder straps
2
chiefly British
: a loose-fitting protective smock worn over regular clothing
over·all
ˌō-vər-ˈȯl
ˈō-vər-ˌȯl
ˈō-vər-ˌȯl
1
: including everything
2
: viewed as a whole : general
Examples of overall in a Sentence
Adverb
He made a few mistakes but did well overall.
Overall, the project was successful.
Adjective
your overall score after two rounds
His mistake didn't change my overall impression of him.
Your overall health is sound.
She likes the overall quality of the product.
The scratch didn't affect the car's overall appearance.
Recent Examples on the Web
Claire Franken, TVLine, 14 June 2025
Asian women, by contrast, report the fewest symptoms overall.
—Sophie Okolo, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
Read on to find out what the richest city in Louisiana is, plus the top 15 wealthiest cities in the state overall.
—Andrew Depietro, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 4 June 2025
Differences Between Fat Loss and Weight Loss Fat loss and weight loss affect your body composition, metabolism, and overall health in different ways.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overall
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Adverb
Indiana has gone 2-3 without Clark, and the Fever are 4-5 on the 2025 season overall.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 14 June 2025
Asian women, by contrast, report the fewest symptoms overall.
—Sophie Okolo, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
Noun
Back in 2019, the Giants drafted Jones No. 6 overall to be a pillar of the franchise for the foreseeable future.
—Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
Read on to find out what the richest city in Louisiana is, plus the top 15 wealthiest cities in the state overall.
—Andrew Depietro, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Adjective
Muscle mass contributes to your overall weight; BMI cannot differentiate among weight that's due to fat, bone, or muscle.
—Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 4 June 2025
Differences Between Fat Loss and Weight Loss Fat loss and weight loss affect your body composition, metabolism, and overall health in different ways.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overall
Cite this Entry
“Overall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overall. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overall
1 of 2 adverb
over·all
ˌō-və-ˈrȯl
: as a whole : generally
we find your work satisfactory, overall
overall
2 of 2 adjectiveˌō-və-ˈrȯl,
ˈō-və-ˌrȯl
1
: including everything
overall expenses
2
: viewed as a whole : general
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