overcast

[ adjective oh-ver-kast, -kahst, oh-ver-kast, -kahst; verb oh-ver-kast, -kahst, oh-ver-kast, -kahst; noun oh-ver-kast, -kahst ]

adjective

1. overspread or covered with clouds; cloudy:

   an overcast day.

2. Meteorology. (of the sky) more than 95 percent covered by clouds.
3. dark; gloomy.
4. Sewing. sewn by overcasting.

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·cast, o·ver·cast·ing.

1. to overcloud, darken, or make gloomy:

   Ominous clouds began to overcast the sky.

2. to sew with stitches passing successively over an edge, especially long stitches set at intervals to prevent raveling.

verb (used without object)

, o·ver·cast, o·ver·cast·ing.

1. to become cloudy or dark:

   By noon it had begun to overcast.

noun

1. Meteorology. the condition of the sky when more than 95 percent covered by clouds.
2. Mining. a crossing of two passages, as airways, dug at the same level, in which one rises to pass over the other without opening into it. Compare undercast ( def 1 ).

overcast

adjective

1. covered over or obscured, esp by clouds
2. meteorol (of the sky) more than 95 per cent cloud-covered
3. gloomy or melancholy
4. sewn over by overcasting

verb

1. to make or become overclouded or gloomy
2. to sew (an edge, as of a hem) with long stitches passing successively over the edge

noun

1. a covering, as of clouds or mist
2. meteorol the state of the sky when more than 95 per cent of it is cloud-covered
3. mining a crossing of two passages without an intersection

Word History and Origins

Origin of overcast¹

1175–1225; Middle English (v.); over-, cast

Example Sentences

On an overcast Thursday in early October, Springfield’s home is socked-in under a marine layer, but in his backyard gazebo, a cozy fireplace is crackling.

From Los Angeles Times

However, it is in western areas where the skies will remain overcast with rain which could be heavy at times.

From BBC

Some cloud cover Saturday will help keep temperatures down, Dumas said, but overcast conditions at night will prevent the region from cooling off.

From Los Angeles Times

At Steel’s election headquarters in a multistory outdoor mall in Buena Park, dozens of volunteers gathered early one overcast Saturday for coffee, mochi donuts and a refresher on voter outreach.

From Los Angeles Times

Fish and chips is a British family favourite equally enjoyed around the table on a Friday night or out of the paper on an often overcast beach.

From BBC

Related Words

• dismal
• dreary
• dull
• hazy
• leaden
• murky