The adjective and adverb are pronounced /oʊvərɔ:l/. The noun is pronounced /oʊvərɔ:l/.
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
You use overall to indicate that you are talking about a situation in general or about the whole of something.
...the overall rise in unemployment...
Cut down your overall amount of physical activity...
ADJ : ADJ n
•
Overall is also an adverb.
Overall I was disappointed...
The college has few ways to assess the quality of education overall.
ADV : ADV with cl
2.
Overalls consist of a single piece of clothing that combines trousers and a jacket. You wear overalls over your clothes in order to protect them while you are working.
...workers in blue overalls.
N-PLURAL : also a pair of N
3.
Overalls are trousers that are attached to a piece of cloth which covers your chest and which has straps going over your shoulders. ( AM; in BRIT, use dungarees )
An elderly man dressed in faded overalls took the witness stand.
N-PLURAL : also a pair of N
4.
An overall is a piece of clothing shaped like a coat that you wear over your clothes in order to protect them while you are working. ( BRIT )
N-COUNT