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
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
Kristen Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2025
Videos shared to social media showed helicopters hovering overhead and yellow police tape blocking off the intersection and portions of the mall’s first-floor plaza.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025
Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2025
Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2025
Seemant Sehgal, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
The Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Public Health Association each sued NIH in February over terminating research grants, and a group of 22 states previously sued NIH over capping the overhead on research.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overhead
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Adverb
The oversized pendant lights, sourced from Jamb, add a touch of old-world charm, complementing the rustic wood beams overhead.
—Kristen Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2025
Videos shared to social media showed helicopters hovering overhead and yellow police tape blocking off the intersection and portions of the mall’s first-floor plaza.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2025
Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
Demonstrating how automated or autonomous testing solutions provide structured, repeatable, proactive testing without the overhead of building a full internal red team could expedite adoption for early adopters and justify costs.
—Seemant Sehgal, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
The Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Public Health Association each sued NIH in February over terminating research grants, and a group of 22 states previously sued NIH over capping the overhead on research.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overhead
Cite this Entry
“Overhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overhead. Accessed 7 Apr. 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
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