overhaul
verb
over·haul
ˌō-vər-ˈhȯl 
overhauled; overhauling; overhauls
1
a
: to examine thoroughly
Our systems of education are being constantly overhauled …—
Saturday Rev.
Saturday Rev.
b(1)
: repair
The mechanic overhauled the engine.
(2)
: to renovate, remake, revise, or renew thoroughly
The town librarians are overhauling the summer reading program.
2
: to haul or drag over
3
: overtake
The most imposing U.S. swimmer was overhauled by a 17-year-old Australian in the butterfly race.
Examples of overhaul in a Sentence
The mechanic overhauled the car's engine.
They had to overhaul their original plans.
Lawmakers are overhauling the welfare program.
Recent Examples on the Web
Much as last year’s crisis around electronic monitoring called for Beach’s rapid intervention, so too must county officials immediately overhaul our process for enforcing court warrants.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Last fall, OpenAI overhauled its structure again to become a public benefit corporation, in which the nonprofit and other investors including Microsoft hold stakes.
—Deepa Seetharaman, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The California Chamber of Commerce has collected more than 945,000 signatures — nearly twice the 546,651 required — to qualify a measure on the November statewide ballot to overhaul the California Environmental Quality Act, commonly known as CEQA.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
Weiss has also been working to overhaul CBS News, which has gone through rounds of layoffs since its parent company was acquired by David Ellison’s Skydance.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overhaul
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The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Last fall, OpenAI overhauled its structure again to become a public benefit corporation, in which the nonprofit and other investors including Microsoft hold stakes.
—Deepa Seetharaman, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The California Chamber of Commerce has collected more than 945,000 signatures — nearly twice the 546,651 required — to qualify a measure on the November statewide ballot to overhaul the California Environmental Quality Act, commonly known as CEQA.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
Weiss has also been working to overhaul CBS News, which has gone through rounds of layoffs since its parent company was acquired by David Ellison’s Skydance.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overhaul
Cite this Entry
“Overhaul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overhaul. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overhaul
verb
over·haul
ˌō-vər-ˈhȯl
1
: to make a thorough examination of and make necessary repairs and adjustments on
overhaul an engine
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