English dictionary

overall Meaning & Definition

Q: What is the plural of overall?

The plural of overall is overalls.

Q: What are the comparative and superlative forms of overall?

The comparative form is more overall and the superlative form is most overall.

/ˌəʊ.vəˈɹɔːl/

What Does Overall Mean?

Overall is an adjective that means All-encompassing, all around. As an adverb, it means Generally; in general. As a noun, it means 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.

Overall: Key Facts

Part of speech	adjective, adverb, noun
Pronunciation	/ˌəʊ.vəˈɹɔːl/
Syllables	3
Synonyms	general, gross and total
Plural	overalls
Comparative / superlative	more overall, most overall

Overall Definition (Adjective)

All-encompassing, all around.

Overall as an Adverb

Generally; in general.
Overall, there is not enough evidence to form a clear conclusion.
Considering or taking into account everything.
The frozen foods side of the business overall saw a loss.

Overall as a Noun

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.
A garment, worn for manual labor, with an integral covering extending to the chest, supported by straps.

Synonyms of Overall

general gross total boilersuitboilers suitbig entire whole exhaustive thoroughall things consideredoverslop slop

Overall synonyms and antonyms →

Overall in a Sentence

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.

The frozen foods side of the business overall saw a loss.

Word Forms & Grammar

overall (comparative more overall, superlative most overall)

overall (not comparable)

overall (plural overalls)

Words That Rhyme With Overall

squall banal appall pall call gall forestall recall stall protocol fall brawl nightfall small bawl stonewall moll scrawl caul befall sol doll shawl pitfall all sprawl drawl haul hall footfall

Origin of Overall

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”).

How to Pronounce Overall

Overall is pronounced /ˌəʊ.vəˈɹɔːl/ and has 3 syllables, with the main stress on the third syllable (ɹɔːl).

Questions People Ask About Overall

Is overall an adjective or an adverb?

Overall is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as an adverb and a noun.

What is another word for overall?

Words with a similar meaning to overall include general, gross and total. See the full list of overall synonyms and antonyms.

What is the plural of overall?

The plural of overall is overalls.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of overall?

The comparative form is more overall and the superlative form is most overall.