overall
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adv.when you consider everything together; in general.
adv.taking everything into account; in view of all circumstances.
Simple“The exam was difficult, but overall I think I did quite well.”
In context“Overall, the project was a success, despite the initial delays and the unexpected budget cuts in the second quarter.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.including everything; total.
adj.comprehensive or all-encompassing; relating to the whole of a situation.
Simple“The overall cost of the holiday was much higher than we expected.”
In context“The overall strategy focuses on long-term sustainability rather than immediate financial gains.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a piece of clothing like a suit that you wear over your normal clothes to keep them clean while working.
n.a protective garment worn over ordinary clothing, typically by manual workers; often used in the plural form in American English.
Simple“The mechanic put on his blue overalls before he started fixing the car engine.”
In context“He hung his oil-stained overalls on the hook by the door after a long shift at the shipyard.”
UsageIn British English, the singular 'overall' often refers to a coat-like garment, while 'overalls' refers to a one-piece suit.
Teacher's tipNote that in American English, this almost always refers to trousers with a bib and straps, and is used in the plural.
Synonymscoverallsboiler suit
Usage overall rate · overall health · overall cost
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.