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overhand

A2
verbadjective

Pronunciation

UK

  • /ˌəʊvəhˈænd/

US

  • /ˌoʊvərhˈænd/

Description

"Overhand" describes a way of moving, throwing, striking, or gripping something with the hand coming from above. Picture a baseball player throwing the ball with the arm raised high over the shoulder and then driving forward. That is the basic idea. It is also used for the way you hold something, as in an overhand grip, where your palms face down or away from you and your knuckles face up. The word often appears in sports, exercise, and simple hand tasks, where it points to a motion or position from above.

Examples

  1. 1

    Throwing

    She threw the ball overhand and it sailed over the fence.

  2. 2

    Sports serve

    The coach taught us an overhand serve.

  3. 3

    Weightlifting grip

    Use an overhand grip when you lift the bar.

    • Phrase

      an overhand grip

      holding something with your palms facing down

  4. 4

    Rope knot

    Tie an overhand knot at the end of the rope.

    • Phrase

      an overhand knot

      a simple knot made with one loop

  5. 5

    Sewing stitch

    She closed the edge of the cloth with an overhand stitch.

    • Phrase

      an overhand stitch

      a simple stitch sewn over the edge of fabric

Forms and spellings

4 forms open this card.

Main spelling

  • overhandverbadjective

Forms

  • overhandedpast tenseverbadjective
  • overhanding-ing formverbadjective
  • overhandsverbadjective