little overcast

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "little overcast" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe weather conditions that are slightly cloudy or not completely clear. Example: "The day started with a little overcast, but the sun eventually broke through the clouds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The weather was windy and a little overcast.

The New York Times - Travel

HARTLAND, Vt .— It was a perfect day for plowing, a little overcast with a cool breeze.

The New York Times

"What we have today is a low of 20 or so, and a high of about 32 — a little bit of rain, a little overcast," Renzulli, the N.H.L.'s senior vice president for events and entertainment, said Thursday.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

As is the case with any leaked footage, I decided to rip the videos off youtube before they're pulled, so you folks can have a little joy this overcast morning.

TechCrunch

Since it initially moved little, Bret brought prolonged overcast conditions to much of the northern Bahamas, with most of the activity over the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama.

Wikipedia

There is a numb overcast overhead, with little drift to it.

The New York Times

The period shone a little light into a generally overcast match.

The Guardian - Sport

"It's like a nice dream I had when I was little, where the sky was overcast and I was right on the beach, with the cliffs all around me". Trujillo nodded.

The New Yorker

— The rain held off, but it was still overcast and a little muggy last Friday when Minnesota Vikings players, coaches and staffers trudged out for the first practice of training camp at Minnesota State University.

The New York Times - Sports

England had to wait almost six hours to capitalise on overcast conditions thatwere little different from when they won the toss.

BBC

Buttler's exploits and a greatly-improved display in the field helped to achieve that but the early exchanges, with the floodlights on from the start in overcast conditions, offered little encouragement.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "little overcast" to subtly describe weather when you want to downplay the gloominess, suggesting it's not entirely cloudy or depressing. For example, "Despite the little overcast, the event continued outdoors."

Common error

Avoid using "little overcast" when the sky is heavily clouded. It's more appropriate for situations where the sun is still partially visible or the cloud cover is thin and light.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "little overcast" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun (often "sky" or "day"), describing the extent of cloud cover. As Ludwig AI tells us, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "little overcast" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for describing a sky that is partially covered by clouds. Ludwig AI confirms this, and while its frequency is rare, it appears primarily in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, it's best to consider the overall impact on the atmosphere. Alternative phrases like "partially overcast" or "slightly cloudy" offer similar meanings, depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis. Therefore, "little overcast" is a concise way to describe weather, but ensure it accurately reflects the extent of cloud cover.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partially overcast

More formal and directly addresses the partial nature of the overcast condition.

mildly overcast

Emphasizes the mildness of the overcast conditions.

a hint of overcast

Subtly suggests the presence of an overcast sky without fully committing to the description.

slightly cloudy

Replaces "overcast" with a more general term for cloudiness, simplifying the description.

lightly clouded

Emphasizes the lightness of the cloud cover, suggesting a less dense overcast.

partly cloudy

Focuses on the presence of clouds rather than the overall covering effect of an overcast sky.

a touch of cloudiness

Informal and emphasizes the minimal amount of cloud cover.

somewhat gloomy

Shifts focus from the meteorological condition to the resulting atmosphere or mood.

dimly lit sky

Describes the effect of the overcast sky on the lighting, rather than the clouds themselves.

greyish sky

Focuses on the color of the sky, indicating the presence of clouds without explicitly mentioning 'overcast'.

FAQs

How can I use "little overcast" in a sentence?

You can use "little overcast" to describe a sky that is not completely covered by clouds. For example, "There was a "little overcast", but it didn't ruin our picnic."

What's a more formal way to say "little overcast"?

A more formal alternative to "little overcast" could be "partially overcast" or "slightly cloudy".

Is it correct to say "a little overcast" or "little overcast"?

Both "a little overcast" and "little overcast" are acceptable, though "little overcast" is more concise. The inclusion of "a" depends on the desired emphasis and flow of the sentence.

What does "little overcast" imply about the weather?

"Little overcast" suggests that the weather is not entirely sunny, but not completely gloomy either. It implies a mix of sun and clouds, with clouds being more dominant.