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 of overhead
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
Joe Rao, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026 The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026 Search-and-rescue corpsmen were overhead, with a hovering helicopter squadron. —Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2026 The 12-second snippet obtained by the Daily News, taken from overhead inside the BK Wine Depot in Boerum Hill on Tuesday, shows Det. —Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026 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
About 45 minutes after the sun sets, the eye-catching celestial duo will be visible in the western sky, roughly two-thirds up from the horizon to the point directly overhead (called the zenith). —Joe Rao, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026 The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
And for years, at the height of summer, the sun is nearly directly overhead. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2026 Search-and-rescue corpsmen were overhead, with a hovering helicopter squadron. —Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
Consequently, organizations can achieve faster speed-to-market and lower operational overhead through autonomous campaign generation and continuous optimization. —Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2026 The 12-second snippet obtained by the Daily News, taken from overhead inside the BK Wine Depot in Boerum Hill on Tuesday, shows Det. —Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overhead
Cite this Entry
“Overhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/overhead. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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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