overhead
overhead — adjective
1. positioned over a person's head, often high in the air.
positioned over a person's head, often high in the air.
The crew checked the overhead wires before the parade began.
pattern: overhead + noun
An overhead light flickered above the hotel stairs all night.
collocation: overhead light
The bus slowed under an overhead bridge near the station.
A low overhead branch brushed Rosa's hat on the path.
- overhead wires
- overhead light
- overhead bridge
- overhead branch
- lower
in a lower position rather than above
- ground-level
at the level of the ground, not above people
Grammar Patterns
overhead + noun
Usage Note
Most often used before nouns such as light, wire, branch, or bridge. Distinguish from adverb sense 1, which usually comes after the verb: 'A helicopter hovered overhead.'
Common Mistakes
2. connected with the general costs a company must pay to keep operating.
connected with the general costs a company must pay to keep operating.
Rising overhead costs forced the bakery to close on Mondays.
collocation: overhead costs
The manager cut overhead spending before hiring more weekend staff.
collocation: overhead spending
Our overhead budget includes rent, internet, and office cleaning.
collocation: overhead budget
High overhead charges can hurt a small shop quickly.
- overhead costs
- overhead spending
- overhead budget
- overhead charges
- operating
broad business word for costs or activity needed to keep something running
- indirect
accounting term for costs not tied to one product or job
- administrative
narrower, often referring to office and management expenses
- direct
used for costs tied to a specific product, service, or job
Grammar Patterns
overhead + costs
overhead + spending
overhead + budget
Usage Note
Usually modifies nouns such as costs, spending, charges, or budget. Distinguish from noun sense 2, which names the money itself rather than describing another noun.
Common Mistakes
3. describes a racket shot struck with the racket raised over the player's head.
describes a racket shot struck with the racket raised over the player's head.
Mei won the point with a fast overhead smash.
collocation: overhead smash
The coach asked Ben to practice overhead shots after class.
pattern: overhead + shot
Lina's overhead clear pushed the shuttle deep into the corner.
collocation: overhead clear
During doubles, Leo missed an overhead shot at the net.
- overhead smash
- overhead shot
- overhead clear
- practice overheads
Grammar Patterns
overhead + smash
overhead + shot
overhead + clear
Usage Note
Common before nouns such as smash, shot, and clear in tennis or badminton. Distinguish from adjective sense 4, which is used for passes or throws made with the hands.
Common Mistakes
4. describes a pass or throw made with the ball released from above the player's he
describes a pass or throw made with the ball released from above the player's head.
Nora threw an overhead pass to the tall center.
collocation: overhead pass
The drill starts with two quick overhead throws.
pattern: overhead + throw
From under the basket, Jay made an overhead pass outward.
The player used an overhead throw to beat the tight defense.
- overhead pass
- overhead throw
- quick overhead pass
- practice overhead throws
- underarm
thrown with the arm swinging from below
- chest-level
released from in front of the chest instead of above the head
Grammar Patterns
overhead + pass
overhead + throw
Usage Note
Used for hand-thrown balls in games such as basketball or handball. Distinguish from adjective sense 3, where the player hits the ball with a racket instead of throwing it.
Common Mistakes
overhead — noun
1. a clear plastic sheet prepared with writing or images to show on a projector.
a clear plastic sheet prepared with writing or images to show on a projector.
Mrs. Chen placed the overhead on the projector before class.
pattern: put an overhead on a projector
Each group made an overhead with maps of the river.
pattern: make an overhead
The old machine jammed when Sam changed the overhead.
I found a dusty overhead in the science room cupboard.
- make an overhead
- change the overhead
- overhead projector
- put up an overhead
- transparency
the standard older term for this clear sheet
- slide
broader and now often used for digital presentation pages too
- acetate
focuses on the plastic material rather than the teaching use
Grammar Patterns
put an overhead on + projector
make an overhead
Usage Note
This older classroom and office word refers to the transparent sheet, not usually to the machine. Modern speakers often use digital slides instead.
Common Mistakes
2. the money a business must keep paying for basics like rent, power, insurance, an
the money a business must keep paying for basics like rent, power, insurance, and office support.
Rent is our biggest overhead at the city office.
collocation: biggest overhead
The cafe lowered overhead by sharing a kitchen next door.
collocation: lower overhead
Fuel, insurance, and storage add to the farm's overhead.
Investors worried that staff travel was pushing overhead too high.
- cut overhead
- lower overhead
- business overhead
- keep overhead low
- expenses
broad everyday word for money spent, including many kinds beyond business overhead
- operating costs
close business term for the costs of keeping a company or service running
- running costs
common term for regular continuing costs in daily operation
- fixed costs
narrower because only some overhead stays the same each month
- direct costs
costs that can be linked to one product, job, or unit of work
Grammar Patterns
cut overhead
lower overhead
keep overhead low
Usage Note
Often discussed in plural as 'overheads' when several company costs are grouped together. Distinguish from direct materials or labor that belong to one specific product or job.
Common Mistakes
overhead — adverb
1. high above someone's head or up in the air.
high above someone's head or up in the air.
A helicopter hovered overhead for nearly ten minutes.
pattern: verb + overhead
Dark clouds gathered overhead as the market was closing.
We heard footsteps overhead from the flat above ours.
overhead inside a building as well
Lanterns swayed overhead while people crossed the night market.
- hover overhead
- gather overhead
- hang overhead
- hear footsteps overhead
- below
in a lower place rather than above the speaker
- underneath
directly under something rather than over the head
Grammar Patterns
[verb] + overhead
Usage Note
Usually follows verbs such as fly, hover, hang, gather, or hear. Distinguish from adjective sense 1, which comes before a noun: 'overhead wires'.
Common Mistakes
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
For business sense 2, 'overhead' refers to the general costs a company carries in order to keep working, such as rent, insurance, office staff, and utilities. 'Expenses' is the broad everyday word and can include almost any money spent. 'Operating costs' is close to 'overhead', but it can also include direct costs needed to provide the service. 'Running costs' is common in both business and everyday use for regular continuing payments. 'Fixed costs' is narrower because only some overhead stays the same each month. Compare these: 'Travel expenses rose last month' can mean many kinds of spending, but 'Office overhead rose last month' points to general business costs.
Etymology
Formed in English from 'over' and 'head'. The earliest idea was simply something located above a person's head. From that physical meaning, English later extended the word to things like objects in the air, shots made from above the head, and the indirect costs a business carries in addition to direct work.