overhaul
verb
over·haul
ˌō-vər-ˈhȯl 
overhauled; overhauling; overhauls
1
a
: to examine thoroughly
our systems of education are being constantly overhauled—
Saturday Rev.
Saturday Rev.
b(1)
: repair
The mechanic overhauled the engine.
(2)
: to renovate, remake, revise, or renew thoroughly
Lawmakers are overhauling the welfare program.
2
: to haul or drag over
3
: overtake
The most imposing U.S. swimmer was overhauled by a 17-year-old Australian in the butterfly race.
Examples of overhaul in a Sentence
The mechanic overhauled the car's engine.
They had to overhaul their original plans.
Lawmakers are overhauling the welfare program.
Recent Examples on the Web
The aging structure has already been used intermittently as a small women’s shelter, yet overhauling the five floors could have required about $86.8 million.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2025
The software update, which aimed to overhaul and improve the app experience, removed simple user features and introduced glitches like not being able to control speaker volume or set alarms.
—John Towfighi, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025
The cap constraints forced a more dramatic squad overhaul this winter as players asked for new contracts.
—Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025
The department and lawyers for the FBI agents unsuccessfully sought to reach a temporary deal on Thursday, but hit a snag over whether the agreement would also bind the effort by the White House and billionaire Elon Musk to overhaul the federal government.
—Sarah Lynch and Andrew Goudsward, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for overhaul 
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Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2025
The software update, which aimed to overhaul and improve the app experience, removed simple user features and introduced glitches like not being able to control speaker volume or set alarms.
—John Towfighi, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025
The cap constraints forced a more dramatic squad overhaul this winter as players asked for new contracts.
—Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025
The department and lawyers for the FBI agents unsuccessfully sought to reach a temporary deal on Thursday, but hit a snag over whether the agreement would also bind the effort by the White House and billionaire Elon Musk to overhaul the federal government.
—Sarah Lynch and Andrew Goudsward, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for overhaul
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Dictionary Entries Near overhaul
Cite this Entry
“Overhaul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overhaul. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overhaul
verb
over·haul
ˌō-vər-ˈhȯl
1
: to make a thorough examination of and make necessary repairs and adjustments on
overhaul an engine
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