over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed 
1
a
: operating, lying, or coming from above
b
: having the driving part above the part driven
valves operated by an overhead camshaft
2
: of or relating to overhead
overhead costs
over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed
Synonyms
Examples of overhead in a Sentence
Adverb
A chandelier hung directly overhead.
People were making noise in the balcony overhead.
Noun
Her company has very little overhead.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 9 Feb. 2025
Outside Los Angeles City Hall, the whir of helicopters overhead was drowned out by a cacophony of bullhorns and fiery chanting.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2025
Russ Wiles, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025
Indirect costs include overhead costs of maintaining buildings housing labs and general administration expenses.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025
Gqlshare, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
With little overhead, the humanities are also comparatively cheap to teach.
—Jon Marcus, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for overhead 
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.
Adverb
During the segment, footage of the NFL football players and American flag on the field, U.S. Corps standing at attention elsewhere, and U.S. Marine Corps flying overhead also aired onscreen.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 9 Feb. 2025
Outside Los Angeles City Hall, the whir of helicopters overhead was drowned out by a cacophony of bullhorns and fiery chanting.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Actually, each penny or Lincoln one-cent piece cost roughly 3.7 cents including overhead costs to make in fiscal 2024, the Mint reported.
—Russ Wiles, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025
Indirect costs include overhead costs of maintaining buildings housing labs and general administration expenses.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
Facilitators are entrusted with tailoring lessons to each child’s unique developmental needs and interests, without the overhead of mandated standardized testing.
—Gqlshare, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
With little overhead, the humanities are also comparatively cheap to teach.
—Jon Marcus, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for overhead
Dictionary Entries Near overhead
Cite this Entry
“Overhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overhead. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overhead
1 of 3 adverb
over·head
ˌō-vər-ˈhed
: above one's head : aloft
geese flying overhead
overhead
2 of 3 adjective
over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed
1
: operating or lying above
an overhead door
2
: of or relating to business expense
overhead
3 of 3 noun
over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed
1
: general business expenses (as rent, heat, or insurance)
2
: a stroke in a racket game made above head height : smash
Legal Definition
overhead
noun
over·head
ˈō-vər-ˌhed
: business expenses (as rent or insurance) not chargeable to a particular part of the work or product
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share