What does overhand mean?
Overhand describes an action performed with the hand or arm swinging over the shoulder. It is especially familiar in sports language: an overhand pitch in baseball travels with the throwing arm above the shoulder, while overhand bowling contrasts with underhand bowling. The word also applies to sewing, where an overhand stitch passes the needle over the material’s edge before it is brought back through. As an adverb, it modifies verbs such as throw, pitch, and bowl, indicating the manner of movement. As a noun, overhand can name a throw or pitch made in this way and, in sewing contexts, an overhand stitch. The term is standard in both British and American English, although overarm is especially associated with British usage.
Performed with the hand or arm moving over the shoulder, or positioned above the hand or arm.
"He used an overhand motion to serve the ball."
Common in descriptions of pitches, throws, bowling, and stitching.
With the hand or arm moving over the shoulder.
"The ball was thrown overhand across the field."
Often follows verbs such as throw, pitch, bowl, and serve.
A throw or pitch made with the arm swung over the shoulder; also, an overhand stitch.
"The pitcher slowed his motion and delivered an overhand."
The sports sense is the most common; the sewing sense is technical.
The plural is used when referring to multiple overhand throws, pitches, or stitches.
"The coach demonstrated several overhands before practice."
In baseball, an overhand pitch sends the ball from above the pitcher’s shoulder, making it the familiar high-speed counterpart to the underhand pitch.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does overhand come from?
Overhand was formed in English by combining over with hand. Its development follows the literal idea of bringing the hand or arm over the shoulder to throw, and the word was used for throwing and related actions before becoming especially prominent in sports vocabulary. The components over and hand are English words with Germanic origins and have also produced related forms such as handle and handy. The compound spread into other technical uses, including the name of a sewing stitch.
Related word forms
How overhand is actually used
The term is most common in sports, games, sewing, and descriptions of throwing technique. In American English, overhand is standard for a baseball pitch; overarm is also common, particularly in British English. As a noun, overhand is less frequent than the adjective and adverb forms.
Easily confused with overhand
Overarm is a closely related term used especially in British English for a throw or technique made with the arm swinging over the shoulder, while overhand is the common general term in both British and American English.