Overcast: meaning, definitions and examples

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overcast

 

[ ˈəʊvəkɑːst ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

weather

covered with clouds; dull and gloomy

Synonyms

cloudy, dull, gloomy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
overcast

Used to describe a sky covered with gray clouds, often implying a consistent and thick cloud presence which blocks direct sunlight.

  • The weather forecast says it will be overcast all day.
  • An overcast sky greeted us as we began our hike.
cloudy

Describes a sky with significant cloud cover, but can range from partly to mostly cloudy. It doesn't necessarily block all sunlight.

  • It's a cloudy morning, but there might be some sunshine later.
  • Cloudy skies are common during the rainy season.
gloomy

Connotes a sense of darkness, depression, or sadness usually associated with very overcast and depressing weather. The term has a negative connotation.

  • The gloomy weather made everyone feel down.
  • A series of gloomy days affected her mood significantly.
dull

Often refers to a lack of brightness or vividness in the sky or overall weather. Can also describe a boring or uninteresting atmosphere.

  • The sky looked dull and lifeless, sapping my energy.
  • It's been a dull day with nothing interesting happening.

Examples of usage

  • The sky was overcast with dark clouds.
  • It's going to be an overcast day with chances of rain.
  • The overcast weather made me feel a bit down.
  • The overcast sky blocked the sunlight.
  • We decided to stay indoors due to the overcast conditions.
Context #2 | Verb

film industry

to transfer film or video to a digital format

Synonyms

convert, digitize, transfer.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
overcast

Describes weather conditions where the sky is completely covered with clouds, making it look dull and grey. It can also be used negatively to describe a mood or situation that feels gloomy or depressing.

  • The sky was overcast, and it looked like it might rain soon.
  • She felt overcast after hearing the bad news.
convert

Used when you want to change something from one form or use to another. Often applied to data, units, currency, and various materials.

  • He decided to convert the spare room into an office.
  • The software can convert text files into PDFs.
digitize

Refers to converting information into a digital format that can be used by computer systems. Commonly used for documents, images, and audio files.

  • They plan to digitize all their records to improve access and security.
  • The old photographs were digitized to preserve them.
transfer

Used when moving something or someone from one place or position to another. This can include data, people, money, or objects.

  • He needs to transfer the money to his new bank account.
  • She got a job transfer to the company's New York office.

Examples of usage

  • The production company needed to overcast the old footage.
  • The process of overcasting the film was time-consuming.
  • He learned how to overcast the videos for online distribution.

Translations

Translations of the word "overcast" in other languages:

🇵🇹 nublado

🇮🇳 बादल छाए हुए

🇩🇪 bedeckt

🇮🇩 berawan

🇺🇦 похмурий

🇵🇱 pochmurny

🇯🇵 曇り

🇫🇷 couvert

🇪🇸 nublado

🇹🇷 bulutlu

🇰🇷 흐린

🇸🇦 ملبد بالغيوم

🇨🇿 zamračený

🇸🇰 zamračený

🇨🇳 阴天

🇸🇮 oblačno

🇮🇸 skýjað

🇰🇿 бұлтты

🇬🇪 ღრუბლიანი

🇦🇿 buludlu

🇲🇽 nublado

Etymology

The term 'overcast' originated from the combination of 'over' and 'cast', where 'cast' means to cover with something. The word has been used since the 16th century to describe cloudy and dull weather conditions. In the film industry, 'overcast' began to be used in the late 20th century with the transition from analog to digital formats.

See also: over, overage, overly.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,363, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.