Overhand describes a throwing motion where your arm swings forward from above your shoulder, with your hand passing over and in front of your head. When you throw a baseball overhand, you bring your arm up and back, then snap it forward to release the ball. This is a common throwing style in baseball pitching and the way many people naturally throw when they want power and distance.

The opposite is underhand, where your arm swings up from below, like tossing a softball pitch or gently lobbing something to a friend. Overhand throws are generally faster and more accurate over long distances.

You'll also hear overhand in swimming. An overhand stroke is when your arms rotate forward over the water, one after the other, rather than pulling through the water at the same time.

In climbing, an overhand knot is a simple knot where you loop the rope and pass one end through, creating a basic stopper knot.