An overhang is something that sticks out beyond the edge of what supports it, hanging over empty space below. Think of a cliff where rock juts out over the valley, or the roof of a house that extends past the walls to keep rain away from the foundation. Tree branches create overhangs when they reach out over sidewalks or streams.

The word overhang works as both a noun and a verb. A balcony is an overhang (noun), but we can also say that the balcony overhangs the entrance below (verb). Rock climbers talk about overhanging sections of cliff where they have to lean back and pull themselves up underneath the rock.

In everyday use, people often say something hangs over them when they mean a problem or worry that won't go away. If you have a big project due next week, that deadline might hang over your weekend plans. The image makes sense: just like a physical overhang looms above you, an unfinished responsibility can feel like it's hovering over everything you do.

In business, people talk about an overhang of unsold products when too much inventory sits in warehouses, waiting to be bought. The excess supply hangs over the market, affecting prices and decisions.