overall
adjectiveadverbnouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˌəʊ.vəˈɹɔːl//
- United States//ˌoʊ.vɚˈɔl//
- Canada//ˌoʊ.vɚˈɒl//
- //ˌoʊ.vɚˈɑl//
All-encompassing, all around.
adjective
- 1
All-encompassing, all around.
We believe also that a controlled economy cannot be understood without some overall view of the controlling institutions: hence our short studies — shorter by far than the original drafts — of the central administration.
"The cranium is clearly plesiomorphic in overall form, presenting primitive traits shared by earlier hominins," the authors wrote.
Etymology
From Middle English overall, overal, from Old English ofer eall, ofer ealle (“over all”), equivalent to over + all. Compare Saterland Frisian oural, uural (“everywhere”), West Frisian oeral (“everywhere”), Dutch overal (“everywhere”), German Low German overall, överall (“everywhere; all over”), German überall (“all over; everywhere”), Danish overalt (“everywhere”), Swedish överallt (“everywhere; overall”).
adverb
- 1
Generally; in general.
Overall, there is not enough evidence to form a clear conclusion.
While this new measure provided money for research, it also purported to cut spending overall.
- 2
Considering or taking into account everything.
The frozen foods side of the business overall saw a loss.
noun
- 1
A garment worn over other clothing to protect it; a coverall or boiler suit. A garment, for manual labor or for casual wear, often made of a single piece of fabric, with long legs and a bib upper, supported from the shoulders with straps, and having several large pockets and loops for carrying tools.
- 2
A garment, worn for manual labor, with an integral covering extending to the chest, supported by straps.
Forms
- plural
- overalls
- comparative
- more overall
- superlative
- most overall