overcast

1 of 3

verb

over·​cast
overcast; overcasting

transitive verb

1
2
ˈō-vər-ˌkast How to pronounce overcast (audio) : to sew (raw edges of a seam) with long slanting widely spaced stitches to prevent raveling

overcast

2 of 3

adjective

: clouded over
an overcast day

overcast

3 of 3

noun

over·​cast ˈō-vər-ˌkast How to pronounce overcast (audio)
: covering
especially : a covering of clouds over the sky

Examples of overcast in a Sentence

Verb an impenetrable fog overcast our view of the harbor Adjective It was an overcast morning. They worked in overcast conditions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Short term reversals shouldn’t overcast longer term progress, Reed added. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 July 2024 The past year has seen an existential mood overcast the rap world as its commercial dominance appears to be on its last leg. Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2023
Adjective
Despite Monday morning’s rain and overcast skies, weather forecasters are predicting a mostly dry — and warm — Election Day in metro Detroit, with a record-setting daily high temperature and gusty winds. Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 4 Nov. 2024 At the Capitol Drive Voting Center, some voters huddled under umbrellas, waiting in line under overcast skies for around 45 minutes to cast their ballot. Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
Testers praised the comfort in a variety of conditions and uses: One wore it beneath a couple layers in temps around the tens during heavy sideways snow in central Oregon; another wore it alone during a 40-degree overcast run in the Ashland watershed. Nathan Pipenberg, Outside Online, 30 Oct. 2024 Rain fell on the first four days of the month, and sunshine was practically nonexistent as a heavy overcast dominated the skies. Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for overcast 

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1536, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1637, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overcast was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near overcast

Cite this Entry

“Overcast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overcast. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

overcast

1 of 3 verb
over·​cast
overcast; overcasting
1
ˌō-vər-ˈkast,
ˈō-vər-ˌkast
: darken sense 1, overshadow
2
ˈō-vər-ˌkast
: to sew with stitches that prevent the material at the edge of a seam from coming apart

overcast

2 of 3 adjective
over·​cast ˌō-vər-ˈkast How to pronounce overcast (audio)
ˌō-vər-ˈkast
: clouded over : gloomy
an overcast night

overcast

3 of 3 noun
over·​cast ˈō-vər-ˌkast How to pronounce overcast (audio)
: covering
especially : a covering of clouds over the sky

More from Merriam-Webster on overcast

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!