overall

Adjective

overall (comparative more overall, superlative most overall)

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.1949, W. Keith Hancock, Margaret M. Gowing, British War Economy
   • "The cranium is clearly plesiomorphic in overall form, presenting primitive traits shared by earlier hominins," the authors wrote.2025 September 27, Julia Jacobo, “Million-year-old skull could rewrite timeline of human origin, researchers say”, in ABC News, archived from the original on 14 Feb 2026

   Synonyms:

   big, entire, total, whole, exhaustive, thorough

Adverb

overall (not comparable)

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

UK/ˈəʊ.və.ɹɔːl/US/ˈoʊ.vɚ.ɔl/

overall (plural overalls)

1. (UK) 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. (US, in plural) A garment, worn for manual labor, with an integral covering extending to the chest, supported by straps.