overall

Everyday

1. Overall means including everything; total: «the overall cost». tree →
2. Overall (adverb) means in general, taking everything into account: «Overall, it was a good day». tree →
3. (UK) An overall is a loose coat worn over clothes to keep them clean. tree →
4. Overalls are trousers with a bib and straps (US also dungarees in UK), or a one-piece work suit. tree →

In the lessons

In maths «overall» means the total or the whole result: overall score, overall winner, overall change. In everyday writing and reports «overall» starts a summary sentence. In art lessons pupils wear overalls to protect clothes. Phrases: «overall winner», «overall total», «on the whole».

Examples

• The overall cost of the trip was fifty pounds. tree →
• Overall, the class did well in the test. tree →
• She was the overall winner of the race. tree →
• Put on your overall before painting. tree →
• The builder wore blue overalls. tree →
• What is the overall change in temperature? tree →
• Overall, I enjoyed the film, though it was long. tree →
• Our team came third overall. tree →

Note

In maths «overall» usually means add everything up, or look at the start and end only: from 5 up 3 then down 7 is an overall change of 4 down. In UK «overalls» can be the one-piece suit; «dungarees» are the bib trousers; in US «overalls» means the bib trousers. Stress: O-ver-all.