overhead

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "overhead" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an expense, cost, or detail associated with running a business, or to refer to something located above a person's head. For example: "The overhead costs associated with running this business are becoming too much."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

3) Overhead kicks department: Amauri against Pescara, Fabio Quagliarella against Chievo, and my favourite: Enzo Maresca against Atalanta.

The Guardian - Sport

JW Instagram isn't all overhead shots of people's dinner: Bart Van Olphsen – cookbook author, ex-fish trader and sustainability champion – has an account dedicated to super-short cookery videos.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He spent the next 17 hours there – approximately, as it was a windowless room and the lights were kept on overhead – while police attempted an interrogation he described as a fishing expedition.

The Guardian

We sat down in the sun-warmed grass and feasted on peppery sausage, soft sheep's cheese and yeasty bread, while an eagle floated past overhead.

The Guardian - Travel

Diego Costa's overhead kick against Getafe was pretty tasty.

The Guardian - Sport

The great Leonid meteor shower was passing overhead.

The Guardian - Arts

One man drew a storm of laughter when, after climbing on to an advertising hoarding to get a better view, he electrocuted himself on an overhead power line.

The Guardian

There's been a police helicopter circling overhead and the officers are all wearing flak jackets".

The Guardian

"Everything is strewn all over the glacier," Cienski said in a video dispatch recorded on Monday as helicopters flew overhead.

The Guardian

King's Cross was closed on Friday evening and will remain so for a further 24 hours as work to install new overhead power cables on tracks running north of the station, scheduled to finish on Boxing Day, has taken longer than expected.

The Guardian

Maybe they'll be sucking the oil from under our land – that's not really fair, is it?" Another few hundred metres down the road and Elaine Gover, who has lived in the area all her life, watched another truck of fencing material rumble towards the drilling site, as a news helicopter clattered overhead, with a more sanguine air.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing business finances, clearly specify what "overhead" includes to avoid ambiguity, such as "rent, utilities, and administrative salaries."

Common error

Avoid classifying direct costs, like raw materials, as "overhead". "Overhead" refers to indirect expenses that support the business as a whole, not specific products or services.

Linguistic Context

The word "overhead" functions as a noun referring to business expenses not directly tied to specific goods or services. It also acts as an adjective meaning located above, and as an adverb meaning in the sky. As Ludwig AI points out, the term is usable and correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Sport

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "overhead" is a versatile term with multiple functions, primarily used as a noun, adjective, and adverb. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and readily usable in English writing. As a noun, it describes indirect business expenses, while as an adjective, it denotes something located above. Its usage spans from business and finance to spatial descriptions, often found in news and professional contexts. Common errors include confusing "overhead" with direct costs. Related phrases include "operating costs" and "above head", offering alternative ways to express its multifaceted meaning. Given its common usage and the variety of contexts where it can appear, mastering the word "overhead" will undoubtedly boost your writing abilities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

above head

Specifies that something is directly positioned over one's head.

operating costs

Focuses specifically on the expenses related to running a business or organization.

administrative expenses

Highlights the costs associated with managing and administering an organization.

management costs

Highlights the costs associated with managing a project or department.

fixed costs

Emphasizes the expenses that remain constant regardless of production levels.

indirect costs

Refers to expenses that are not directly tied to a specific product or service.

general expenses

Highlights expenses that are attributed to the business activity in general and not to a specific department.

above

Indicates a position higher than something else, referring to a spatial context.

aloft

Suggests being high up in the air.

upward

Implies a direction towards a higher position.

FAQs

How is the term "overhead" used in business contexts?

In business, "overhead" generally refers to the indirect expenses of running a business, such as rent, utilities, and administrative costs. It's distinct from direct costs like materials and labor.

What is an alternative to using "overhead" in describing costs?

You can use alternatives like "operating costs", "indirect expenses", or "administrative costs" depending on the specific aspect you want to emphasize.

In what contexts can "overhead" be used as an adjective?

"Overhead" can describe something located above, such as "overhead bins" in an airplane or "overhead power lines" along a railway.

What's the difference between "overhead" and "fixed costs"?

While both relate to business expenses, "overhead" encompasses a broader range of indirect costs, while "fixed costs" specifically refer to expenses that don't change with production levels. For example, rent is usually a fixed overhead cost.