overall
/ˌəʊ.vəˈrɔːl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌoʊ.vɚˈɑːl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌō-vər-ˈȯl/ (ame, mw) · /ˌəʊvərˈɔːl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌəʊvərˈɔːl/ (ame, ipa)
overall — adverb
1. taking every part of a situation together, not just one detail.
taking every part of a situation together, not just one detail.
Overall, the trip was cheap and easy to plan.
sentence adverb: overall, + clause
The team played badly early on, but overall they deserved to win.
contrast before final judgment
Overall, parents liked the new lunch menu at school.
Sales fell in June, yet overall the shop had a strong year.
Mina's test scores were mixed, but overall they showed real progress.
- generally
gives a broad summary, but often means 'in most cases' rather than after weighing everything
- on balance
stresses that good and bad points have been compared
- all in all
more conversational and common in spoken comments
- broadly
suggests an approximate summary and can sound less final
- specifically
focuses on one exact part instead of the whole picture
- in detail
adds particular points rather than a total judgment
文法句型
overall, + clause
[verb] overall
用法筆記
Often placed at the start of a sentence for a final judgment, but it can also come later, as in 'lower overall'. Distinguish from adjective sense 1, which directly modifies a noun such as 'overall score'.
常見錯誤
overall — adjective
- overallpositive
- more overallcomparative
- most overallsuperlative
1. covering the full situation instead of one single part.
covering the full situation instead of one single part.
We need an overall plan before we choose the smaller tasks.
pattern: overall + noun
The report gives an overall picture of housing costs in Taipei.
collocation: overall picture
An overall view of the damage helped the town decide priorities.
Nina's overall score rose after the final speaking test.
The coach praised the team's overall effort, not one player's goal.
文法句型
overall + noun
用法筆記
Usually placed directly before the noun: 'overall plan', 'overall score', 'overall effect'. Distinguish from adverb sense 1, which comments on a whole result: 'Overall, the plan worked.'
常見錯誤
overall — noun
1. a pair of loose trousers that you wear over your normal clothes to keep them cle
a pair of loose trousers that you wear over your normal clothes to keep them clean or dry.
Before cleaning the tank, Maya pulled overalls over her jeans and boots.
pattern: overalls over + clothing
The farm shop sells green overalls for wet work in the fields.
Oil splashed the floor, but Eric's overalls protected his school uniform.
Workers hung their dirty overalls by the back door after the storm.
The boy wore large overalls over his clothes to paint the fence.
- cover pants
a broad descriptive term for trousers worn over other clothes
- rain pants
used mainly for wet weather, so it is narrower than this sense
- protective trousers
describes the function clearly, but sounds less like a fixed clothing name
文法句型
wear overalls
pull on overalls
overalls over + clothing
用法筆記
Usually used in the plural 'overalls' for waterproof or protective trousers worn over other clothes. Distinguish from noun/2, which names bib-and-strap work trousers rather than a loose outer layer.
常見錯誤
2. strong work trousers, often made of denim, with a front chest piece and straps o
strong work trousers, often made of denim, with a front chest piece and straps over the shoulders.
Ava wore blue overalls and a red T-shirt in the garden.
The little boy's overalls had one strap hanging loose.
feature: straps over the shoulders
Workers at the apple farm still wear denim overalls in autumn.
Grandpa kept an old pair of overalls for painting the shed.
The costume shop sold striped overalls for the school play.
- bib overalls
a very close label that makes the chest piece explicit
- dungarees
used in some varieties of English for similar clothes, though the exact meaning can shift
- work pants
broader and does not always include straps or a bib
文法句型
wear overalls
pair of overalls
overalls with straps
用法筆記
Usually plural 'overalls' and often linked with farm work or manual jobs. Distinguish from noun/1, where the garment is mainly an outer protective layer, and noun/3, which is a coat-like cover rather than trousers.
常見錯誤
3. a loose coat-like cover that you wear over your clothes during messy work.
a loose coat-like cover that you wear over your clothes during messy work.
The painter buttoned a white overall over his shirt.
pattern: wear an overall over + clothing
Mrs. Lin wore a plastic overall while washing the dog indoors.
The science teacher handed each child an overall before the clay class.
A long blue overall hung beside the cleaning tools.
Rosa took off her dusty overall before riding the bus home.
文法句型
wear an overall
put on an overall
take off an overall
用法筆記
Often singular when referring to one garment, unlike noun/1 and noun/2, which are usually plural trouser types. Distinguish this sense by its coat- or smock-like shape.