overhang

1 of 2

verb

over·​hang ˈō-vər-ˌhaŋ How to pronounce overhang (audio)
ˌō-vər-ˈhaŋ
overhung ˈō-vər-ˌhəŋ How to pronounce overhang (audio) ˌō-vər-ˈhəŋ How to pronounce overhang (audio) ; overhanging

transitive verb

1
: to project over
2
: to impend over : threaten

intransitive verb

: to project so as to be over something

overhang

2 of 2

noun

over·​hang ˈō-vər-ˌhaŋ How to pronounce overhang (audio)
plural overhangs
1
: something that overhangs
also : the extent of the overhanging
2
: the part of the bow or stern of a ship that projects over the water above the waterline
3
: a projection of the roof or upper story of a building beyond the wall of the lower part
4
a
: an excess of something that is left over and not easily disposed of
inventory overhang
Housing prices will not stabilize until the massive overhang of foreclosed homes is reduced.Robert Borosage
b
: an excess amount of a commodity or security the selling of which often drives down the value of that kind of commodity or security
share overhang

Illustration of overhang

Illustration of overhang
  • 1 overhang 3

Examples of overhang in a Sentence

Verb A cliff overhangs the trail. The patio was overhung by a canopy. The path was overhung with willow trees. Noun The overhang of the roof cast a shadow on the ground. a recess in the face of the cliff that is hidden by the thick vines dangling from the jagged overhang above
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
These rules are intended to prevent rare instances of a turbine overhanging or falling onto another property. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 Grease foil with a little soft butter (not the overhanging foil, just the area against the sides and bottom of the pan. Cathy Thomas, Orange County Register, 5 Feb. 2024 But overhanging all of that joy were a few pre-show clouds — even literally in the form of an unexpected Los Angeles rainstorm. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Feb. 2024 To serve, lift the bars out of the pan using the overhanging parchment. Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2024 These resourceful people used overhanging cliffs and shallow alcoves carved from the limestone walls to build dwellings while farming flat terraces on the canyon rim. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 4 Jan. 2024 This year, Wall Street will keep a close eye on what kind of progress companies can make on these fronts to move past the clouds overhanging industry stocks. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2024 The mountain’s 3,000-foot head wall, parts of it overhanging and spackled in corniced snow and ice, is roughly the size of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. John Branch, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2023 Line a 15 x 10 x 1–inch jelly-roll pan with parchment paper, allowing excess paper to overhang the edges. Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2023
Noun
Its rubber seals and front overhang will also keep your mail dry. Samantha S. Thorpe, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024 Without it, the car has only a moderate rear overhang, but attach the extra tail and the AGTZ is transformed into a beautifully sleek homage to long-tail racers of the past. Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 To one side, there’s an outdoor dining table (also shaded), and to the other, a lounge underneath the overhang, which is set under the primary bedroom’s walk-out terrace on the second floor. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 25 Jan. 2024 The long wheelbase, short overhangs and wide stance give it surprisingly athletic proportions. Sam Abuelsamid, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 The problem that triggered $16.7 billion in losses from 2019 to 2021 was the huge overhang of airliners Boeing was carrying in inventory. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2024 Baker and his partner had relocated to Cesar Chavez Plaza after they had been cleared earlier this week from a spot under the overhang at City Hall. Theresa Clift, Sacramento Bee, 9 Feb. 2024 The concrete bleachers have also started to separate and the canopy overhang above poses a fall risk as pieces of the roof have started to break down. Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2024 Working quickly, use plastic wrap overhang as handles to remove each cake from wells; place them, cake side down, on a baking sheet. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 28 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overhang.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of overhang was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near overhang

Cite this Entry

“Overhang.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overhang. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

overhang

1 of 2 verb
over·​hang ˈō-vər-ˌhaŋ How to pronounce overhang (audio)
ˌō-vər-ˈhaŋ
overhung -ˌhəŋ How to pronounce overhang (audio)
-ˈhəŋ
; overhanging
1
: to stick out or hang over
2

overhang

2 of 2 noun
over·​hang ˈō-vər-haŋ How to pronounce overhang (audio)
: a part that overhangs
the overhang of a roof

Medical Definition

overhang

noun
over·​hang ˈō-vər-ˌhaŋ How to pronounce overhang (audio)
: a portion of a filling that extends beyond the normal contour of a tooth

More from Merriam-Webster on overhang

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