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

A room glows with fluorescent light of the same hue as a yellowed, overcast sky after a storm.

From Washington Post

It’s the first since the Terps ended a 42-year title drought in 2017, when they knocked off Ohio State on a chilly, overcast New England holiday afternoon — similar to the one expected Monday at Rentschler Field.

From Washington Post

Spotty light showers and drizzle persist through much of the day under overcast skies, perhaps diminishing a bit during the afternoon as skies turn slightly brighter.

From Washington Post

She thought about her family, her job, her hair as she gazed at the overcast sky and, before Sergio could see, wiped away the tears.

From ProPublica

Thursday’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies, becoming more overcast as the day wears on, with a high of 82 and winds at 10-15 mph.

From Washington Post

However, an overcast sky (like you see often during the winter) usually ranks at only 1,000 lux or lower.

From The Daily Beast

Mostly cloudy Monday through Wednesday, cloudy Thursday, overcast Friday, and considerable cloudiness over the weekend.

From The Daily Beast

The wet ground mirrored the overcast sky and three officiating officers stood saluting in the background.

From The Daily Beast

The plan was to go that coming Sunday afternoon, but when the day came it was bitter, overcast, so I tried begging off.

From The Daily Beast

Haneke, however, is in a decidedly genial mood on an overcast fall day in midtown Manhattan—and with good reason.

From The Daily Beast

Thick clouds of smoke overcast the sky, shrouding the morning with sombre gray.

From Project Gutenberg

The heavens were overcast with gray cold clouds that rode high and brought wind rather than rain.

From Project Gutenberg

The sky was gloomy and overcast, and altogether the outlook was about as terrible as it could well be.

From Project Gutenberg

The night was mild and calm, but overcast and exceedingly dark.

From Project Gutenberg

The mornings are cool and overcast, but the middle of the day is clear.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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