Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense overhauls, present participle overhauling, past tense, past participle overhauledpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (oʊvəʳhɔːl). The noun is pronounced (oʊvəʳhɔːl).
1. verb [usually passive]
If a piece of equipment is overhauled, it is cleaned, checked thoroughly, and repaired if necessary.
They had ensured the plumbing was overhauled a year ago. [beVERB-ed]
Our car was towed away to have its suspension overhauled. [have noun VERB-ed]
Synonyms: check, service, maintain, examine More Synonyms of overhaul
Overhaul is also a noun.
...the overhaul of aero engines.
2. verb
If you overhaul a system or method, you examine it carefully and make many changes in it in order to improve it.
The government said it wanted to overhaul the employment training scheme. [VERB noun]
The legal system needs to be overhauled. [VERB noun]
Overhaul is also a noun.
The study says there must be a complete overhaul of air traffic control systems. [+ of]
3. verb
If someone overhauls a person who is ahead of them, especially in a sports competition, they pass them or become more successful than them.
Argentina need to beat Peru by at least four goals to overhaul Brazil and reach thefinal itself. [VERB noun]
He led for several laps before he was overhauled by his rival. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: overtake, pass, leave behind, catch up with More Synonyms of overhaul
More Synonyms of overhaul
overhaul in British English
verb (ˌəʊvəˈhɔːl)(transitive)
1.
to examine carefully for faults, necessary repairs, etc
2.
to make repairs or adjustments to (a car, machine, etc)
3.
to overtake
noun (ˈəʊvəˌhɔːl)
4.
a thorough examination and repair
overhaul in American English
(ˌoʊvərˈhɔl; also, and for n. always, ˈoʊvərˌhɔl)
verb transitive
1.
to haul over, as for examination
2.
a.
to check thoroughly for needed repairs
b.
to make the repairs, adjustments, etc. needed to restore (a motor, etc.) to good working order
3.
to gain on, catch up with, or overtake
noun
4.
an overhauling; thorough examination or restoration to good working order
Examples of 'overhaul' in a sentence
overhaul
The need for a radical overhaul has been abundantly clear for years.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It also recommends overhauling the civil courts fees system.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It has also completely overhauled the system for dealing with power of attorney.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Some will need a complete overhaul, some just a gentle nudge.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In addition, the government needs to overhaul vehicle excise duty to incentivise people to buy the cleanest vehicles.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
New police officers will need to have university degrees for the first time under one of the most radical overhauls of the service in generations.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The system needs an overhaul.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A radical image overhaul has also meant playing catch-up with her wardrobe.
The Sun (2017)
The government has also delayed its plans to cap housing benefit by a year, as it announced plans for an overhaul of the system.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Dickensian committee system needs overhauling, as it can inhibit staff from doing their work.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The system is long overdue for a complete overhaul.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The figures come as the government plans to overhaul the credit card industry.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The system in needs a radical overhaul.
The Sun (2012)
Benefits will also be overhauled to make sure people are always better off in work.
The Sun (2011)
They are also looking to overhaul the benefits system to make it simpler.
The Sun (2010)
The way volunteering works has also been overhauled.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Businesses must overhaul recruitment programmes and look beyond acceptance by certification or diploma alone.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It must insist on a complete overhaul of staffing and management.
The Sun (2013)
Next in line for an overhaul is government.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The report called for a radical overhaul of the science and maths curriculum and examination system.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
His comment has prompted many to ask whether the system needs an overhaul.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The dining experience has also been overhauled.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She also sought to overhaul safety practices.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It has sparked calls for an overhaul of the system to focus on getting them back to work.
The Sun (2015)
The expenses system needs a complete overhaul and it must be done by an independent body with no way to profit.
The Sun (2008)
The MPs call for a complete overhaul of the scheme to merge six benefits into one credit.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The MPs called for a complete government overhaul of the system.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A complete overhaul will cost at least 30,000.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
overhaul
British English: overhaul VERB
If a piece of equipment is overhauled, it is cleaned, checked thoroughly, and repaired if necessary.
They had ensured the plumbing was overhauled a year ago.
American English: overhaul
Brazilian Portuguese: revisar
Chinese: 全面检修
European Spanish: revisar
French: réviser
German: überholen
Italian: revisionare
Japanese: 総点検する
Korean: 정비되다
European Portuguese: fazer a revisão
Latin American Spanish: revisar
Chinese translation of 'overhaul'
overhaul
(vbəuvəˈhɔːl; nˈəuvəhɔːl)
vt
[engine]大修 (dàxiū)
[system, method]彻(徹)底革新 (chèdǐ géxīn)
n(c)
[of engine etc]大修 (dàxiū) (次, cì)
[of system]检查修正 (jiǎnchá xiūzhèng)
1 (verb)
Definition
to make repairs or adjustments to (a vehicle or machine)
The plumbing was overhauled a year ago.
Synonyms
check
Check the accuracy of every detail in your CV.
Get a mechanic to check the car out for you before you buy it.
service
Make sure that all gas fires are serviced annually.
maintain
examine
He examined her passport and stamped it.
restore
They partly restored a local castle.
tune (up)
repair
go over
inspect
Cut the fruit in half and inspect the pips.
fine tune
do up (informal)
re-examine
recondition
They sell used and reconditioned motorcycle parts.
2 (verb)
Definition
to overtake (a vehicle or person)
Beattie led for several laps before he was overhauled by Itoh.
Synonyms
overtake
He overtook the truck and pulled into the inside lane.
pass
A car passed me going quite fast.
leave behind
catch up with
get past
outstrip
In pursuing her ambition she outstripped everyone else.
get ahead of
draw level with
outdistance
He managed to outdistance his pursuers.
(noun)
Definition
a thorough examination and repair
The study says there must be a complete overhaul of air traffic control systems.
Synonyms
check
He is being constantly monitored with regular checks on his blood pressure.
service
The car needs a service.
examination
a routine medical examination
going-over (informal)
Michael was given a complete going-over and was diagnosed with hay fever.
inspection
A routine inspection of the vessel turned up 50 kg of the drug.
once-over (informal)
checkup
reconditioning
Additional synonyms
in the sense of examination
Definition
physical inspection of a patient
a routine medical examination
Synonyms
checkup,
analysis,
going-over (informal),
exploration,
health check,
check,
medical,
once-over (informal)
in the sense of examine
Definition
to inspect carefully or in detail
He examined her passport and stamped it.
Synonyms
inspect,
test,
consider,
study,
check,
research,
review,
survey,
investigate,
explore,
probe,
analyse,
scan,
vet,
check out,
ponder,
look over,
look at,
sift through,
work over,
pore over,
appraise,
scrutinize,
peruse,
take stock of,
assay,
recce (slang),
look at carefully,
go over or through
in the sense of going-over
Definition
a thorough examination or investigation
Michael was given a complete going-over and was diagnosed with hay fever.
Synonyms
examination,
study,
check,
review,
survey,
investigation,
analysis,
inspection,
scrutiny,
perusal
Synonyms of 'overhaul'
overhaul
Explore 'overhaul' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inspect
Definition
to examine closely, esp. for faults or errors
Cut the fruit in half and inspect the pips.
Synonyms
examine,
check,
look at,
view,
eye,
survey,
observe,
scan,
check out (informal),
look over,
eyeball (slang),
scrutinize,
give (something or someone) the once-over (informal),
take a dekko at (British, slang, old-fashioned),
go over or through
in the sense of inspection
A routine inspection of the vessel turned up 50 kg of the drug.
Synonyms
check,
search,
investigation,
review,
survey,
examination,
scan,
scrutiny,
supervision,
surveillance,
look-over,
once-over (informal),
checkup,
recce (slang),
superintendence
in the sense of outdistance
Definition
to leave (other competitors) behind in a race
He managed to outdistance his pursuers.
Synonyms
leave behind,
lose,
escape,
get away from,
shake off,
outstrip,
outrun,
leave standing (informal),
outpace
in the sense of outstrip
Definition
to surpass (someone) in a particular activity
In pursuing her ambition she outstripped everyone else.
Synonyms
surpass,
beat,
leave behind,
eclipse,
overtake,
best,
top,
better,
overshadow,
outdo,
outclass,
outperform,
outshine,
leave standing (informal),
tower above,
get ahead of,
go one better than (informal),
run rings around,
knock spots off (informal),
put in the shade
in the sense of pass
Definition
to go by or past (a person or thing)
A car passed me going quite fast.
Synonyms
go by or past,
overtake,
drive past,
lap,
leave behind,
cut up (informal),
pull ahead of
in the sense of recondition
Definition
to restore to good condition or working order
They sell used and reconditioned motorcycle parts.
Synonyms
restore,
repair,
renew,
overhaul,
revamp,
renovate,
remodel,
do up (informal),
fix up (informal, US, Canadian)
in the sense of restore
Definition
to reconstruct (a ruin, extinct animal, etc.)
They partly restored a local castle.
Synonyms
repair,
refurbish,
renovate,
reconstruct,
fix (up),
recover,
renew,
rebuild,
mend,
rehabilitate,
touch up,
recondition,
retouch,
set to rights
in the sense of service
Definition
to check and repair (a vehicle or machine)
Make sure that all gas fires are serviced annually.
Synonyms
overhaul,
check,
maintain,
tune (up),
repair,
go over,
fine tune,
recondition,
keep in good condition,
give a maintenance check to
in the sense of service
Definition
a regular check made on a machine or vehicle in which parts are tested, cleaned, or replaced if worn