overhead

1 of 3

adverb

over·​head ˌō-vər-ˈhed 

: above one's head : aloft

overhead

2 of 3

adjective

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

overhead

3 of 3

noun

over·​head ˈō-vər-ˌhed 

1

: business expenses (such as rent, insurance, or heating) not chargeable to a particular part of the work or product

2

: ceiling

especially : the ceiling of a ship's compartment

3

: a stroke in a racket game made above head height : smash

Synonyms of overhead

Adverb

• upward
• above
• over

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

Adverb

Snorkel in subterranean rivers, swim with dolphins (for an extra fee, with reservations), duck at the sound of macaws screeching overhead, wander through a Day of the Dead display, and swing in a hammock beside a turquoise cove. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026

By that point, the rain had cleared up as gray clouds hung overhead. —Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026

Adjective

One person is dead after a vehicle crashed into a concrete post supporting an overhead highway sign, causing the sign to collapse and close the southbound lanes of Interstate 35 late Thursday in Johnson County, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. —Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026

The amount of migratory birds overhead varies according to what the weather is and where you are located along the flyway. —K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026

Noun

These include performance overheads for complex tasks or workloads that need to be completed with low latency, as well as filling in skills gaps for software developers who have no FHE knowledge or experience. —IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026

That is the way that money is generated on a tour, because the overhead of touring is just horribly expensive. —Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing overhead

• overhead projector

Rhymes for overhead

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• gingerbread
• hammerhead
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead

Kids 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