# overall

/ˈoʊvɝˌɔɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overall
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. generally

adverb · CEFR B1

when you consider everything together; in general.

For teachers: taking everything into account; in view of all circumstances.

- The exam was difficult, but overall I think I did quite well.
- Overall, the project was a success, despite the initial delays and the unexpected budget cuts in the second quarter.

### 2. total or general

adjective · CEFR B1

including everything; total.

For teachers: comprehensive or all-encompassing; relating to the whole of a situation.

- The overall cost of the holiday was much higher than we expected.
- The overall strategy focuses on long-term sustainability rather than immediate financial gains.

### 3. protective clothing

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a piece of clothing like a suit that you wear over your normal clothes to keep them clean while working.

For teachers: a protective garment worn over ordinary clothing, typically by manual workers; often used in the plural form in American English.

- The mechanic put on his blue overalls before he started fixing the car engine.
- He hung his oil-stained overalls on the hook by the door after a long shift at the shipyard.

Usage: In British English, the singular 'overall' often refers to a coat-like garment, while 'overalls' refers to a one-piece suit.

Teaching tip: Note that in American English, this almost always refers to trousers with a bib and straps, and is used in the plural.

## Examples

- Overall, the event was a great success.
- The team lost two games, but overall they played much better than they did last season.
- While specific sectors experienced minor declines, the overall economic outlook remains positive due to strong consumer spending and low unemployment rates.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.