overhead Meaning & Definition
What Does Overhead Mean?
Overhead is an adjective that means Located above, especially over the head. It can also mean Kicked over one's own head. As a noun, it means The expense of a business not directly assigned to goods or services provided. As an adverb, it means Above one's head; in the sky.
Overhead: Key Facts
| Part of speech | adjective, noun, adverb, preposition |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈəʊvəˌhɛd/ |
| Synonyms | elevated, smash and aerial |
| Antonyms | subsurface and surface |
| Plural | overheads |
| Comparative / superlative | more overhead, most overhead |
Overhead Definition (Adjective)
- Located above, especially over the head.
Place your luggage in the overhead lockers.
- Kicked over one's own head.
Overhead as a Noun
- The expense of a business not directly assigned to goods or services provided.
- The items or classes of expense not directly assigned to goods or services provided.
- Any cost or expenditure (monetary, time, effort or otherwise) incurred in a project or activity, which does not directly contribute to its progress or outcome.
- Wasted money.
- A smash.
- The ceiling of any enclosed space below decks in a vessel.
- A compartment above the seats for stowing luggage in a passenger aircraft.
- The system of overhead wires used to power electric transport, such as streetcars, trains, or buses.
- Data or steps of computation used only to facilitate the computations in the system and not directly related to the actual program code or data being processed.
Network overhead is the header data that is required to route and transport data over the network, whereas fork overhead is the additional time and memory cost of creating and managing new processes within the operating system.
- An overhead throw.
- A type of bridge, also commonly known as an overpass or flyover, which carries one form of traffic over another.
Overhead as an Adverb
- Above one's head; in the sky.
birds flying overhead
- Per head; for each individual.
Overhead as a Preposition
- Above.
Noun
- An overhead projector.
- A sheet of transparent material with an image used with an overhead projector; an overhead transparency.
Noun
- Any cost or expenditure (monetary, time, effort or otherwise) incurred in a project or activity, which does not directly contribute to the progress or outcome of the project or activity.
- (by ellipsis) An overhead throw.
Synonyms of Overhead
Antonyms of Overhead
Overhead in a Sentence
Place your luggage in the overhead lockers.
Network overhead is the header data that is required to route and transport data over the network, whereas fork overhead is the additional time and memory cost of creating and managing new processes within the operating system.
birds flying overhead
Network overhead is the header data that is required to route and transport data over network, whereas fork overhead is the additional time and memory cost of creating and managing new processes within operating system.
Word Forms & Grammar
overhead (comparative more overhead, superlative most overhead)
overhead (countable and uncountable, plural overheads)
overhead
overhead (plural overheads)
Words That Rhyme With Overhead
Origin of Overhead
From Middle English owerheved, over-hed, over hede (adverb), from Old English oferhēafod (adverb), equivalent to over- + head. Compare German Low German overhoopt, överhoopt, German überhaupt. Piecewise doublet of overchief.
Frequently Asked Questions About Overhead
Is overhead an adjective or a noun?
Overhead is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun, an adverb and a preposition.
What is another word for overhead?
Close synonyms of overhead are elevated, smash and aerial. See the full list of overhead synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of overhead?
Words opposite in meaning to overhead are subsurface and surface.
What is the plural of overhead?
The plural of overhead is overheads.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of overhead?
The comparative form is more overhead and the superlative form is most overhead.