The difference between Overall and Total

When used as nouns, overall means a garment worn over other clothing to protect it, whereas total means an amount obtained by the addition of smaller amounts.

When used as adjectives, overall means all-encompassing, all around, whereas total means entire.


Overall is also adverb with the meaning: generally.

Total is also verb with the meaning: to add up.

check bellow for the other definitions of Overall and Total

  1. Overall as an adjective:

    All-encompassing, all around.

  1. Overall as an adverb:

    Generally; with everything considered.

    Examples:

    "'Overall, there is not enough evidence to form a clear conclusion."

  1. Overall as a noun (British):

    A garment worn over other clothing to protect it; a coverall or boiler suit. A garment, for manual labor or for casual wear, often made of a single piece of fabric, with long legs and a bib upper, supported from the shoulders with straps, and having several large pockets and loops for carrying tools.

  2. Overall as a noun (in the plural, US):

    A garment, worn for manual labor, with an integral covering extending to the chest, supported by straps.

  1. Total as a noun:

    An amount obtained by the addition of smaller amounts.

    Examples:

    "A total of £145 was raised by the bring-and-buy stall."

  2. Total as a noun (informal, mathematics):

    Sum.

    Examples:

    "The total of 4, 5 and 6 is 15."

  1. Total as an adjective:

    Entire; relating to the whole of something.

    Examples:

    "The total book is rubbish from start to finish.  nowrap The total [[number]] of votes cast is 3,270."

  2. Total as an adjective:

    () Complete; absolute.

    Examples:

    "He is a total failure."

  1. Total as a verb (transitive):

    To add up; to calculate the sum of.

    Examples:

    "When we totalled the takings, we always got a different figure."

  2. Total as a verb:

    To equal a total of; to amount to.

    Examples:

    "That totals seven times so far."

  3. Total as a verb (transitive, US, slang):

    to demolish; to wreck completely. (from total loss)

    Examples:

    "Honey, I’m OK, but I’ve totaled the car."

  4. Total as a verb (intransitive):

    To amount to; to add up to.

    Examples:

    "It totals nearly a pound."