allover: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal to Neutral. Often used in descriptive contexts (fashion, design, art) and informal speech. Less common in formal academic writing.
Quick answer
What does “allover” mean?
An adjective describing something that covers an entire surface or object uniformly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An adjective describing something that covers an entire surface or object uniformly.
Can describe a state of being widespread, pervasive, or affecting an entire area. In printing, refers to a repeat pattern on fabric. Can also be used informally to express a feeling of comprehensive fatigue or overwhelm (e.g., "I'm feeling allover ache").
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The one-word form 'allover' for the adjective is standard in both. The phrase 'all over' is far more frequent in both dialects.
Connotations
Neutral. In fashion/design contexts, it's a standard term. In informal speech describing a pervasive feeling, it may carry a slightly emphatic or colloquial tone.
Frequency
The adjective 'allover' is relatively low frequency. The two-word phrase 'all over' is extremely high frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “allover” in a Sentence
adjective + noun (attributive only)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “allover” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She wore a dress with a lovely floral allover print.
- After the workout, he had an allover muscular ache.
American English
- He bought a t-shirt with an allover team logo.
- I woke up with this allover tiredness.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in marketing for product description (e.g., 'an allover logo print').
Academic
Rare, except in specific fields like textile history or design studies.
Everyday
Most common in descriptions of clothing, fabric, or informal descriptions of physical/emotional states.
Technical
Used in textile, printing, and design industries to describe continuous patterns.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “allover”
- Confusing 'allover' (adj.) with 'all over' (adv./prep.). Incorrect: 'The paint was applied allover.' Correct: '...applied all over' or 'It was an allover application.'
- Using 'all-over' with a hyphen, which is an accepted variant but less standard than the solid form.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Allover' is a one-word adjective meaning 'covering the whole surface' (e.g., an allover tan). 'All over' is a two-word adverbial/prepositional phrase meaning 'in every part of' or 'completely finished' (e.g., He looked all over the house. The game was all over).
No, as an adjective, 'allover' is used almost exclusively before a noun (attributively). For predicative use, the phrase 'all over' is used (e.g., 'The print is all over the fabric').
Yes, the hyphenated form 'all-over' is a common and acceptable variant of the adjective, though modern dictionaries and style guides often list the solid 'allover' as standard.
It is of medium-to-low frequency. Its use is niche, primarily in fashion, design, and informal description. The phrase 'all over' is vastly more common in daily speech and writing.
An adjective describing something that covers an entire surface or object uniformly.
Allover is usually informal to neutral. often used in descriptive contexts (fashion, design, art) and informal speech. less common in formal academic writing. in register.
Allover: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɔːlˈəʊvə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɔːlˈoʊvər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Phrasal form: all over] He was praised all over the country.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a jumper (sweater) with a pattern that goes ALL OVER it = an ALLOVER print.
Conceptual Metaphor
COVERING IS A LAYER / PERVASIVENESS IS A LIQUID (e.g., a feeling 'spread allover').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'allover' most appropriately used?