overact

verb

over·​act ˌō-vər-ˈakt How to pronounce overact (audio)
overacted; overacting; overacts

intransitive verb

1
: to act more than is necessary
2
: to overact a part

transitive verb

: to exaggerate in acting
overaction noun

Examples of overact in a Sentence

His tendency to overact made his performance less realistic.
Recent Examples on the Web Sukowa seems to have been encouraged to overact, perhaps overcompensating for the film’s general listlessness. Pat Padua, Washington Post, 7 June 2023 If the blood levels are too high, the immune system can overact, causing pain, swelling and fatigue — symptoms often seen with Lyme disease. Caroline Hopkins, NBC News, 14 May 2023 The standout story features the wily, overacting Minna Nordstrom, née Vera Prebble, who secures herself a star contract (and forces the merger of several studios) by blackmailing every producer with a secret liquor stash. Boris Kachka, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023 However overacted, Goerke’s Ortrud delivered the vocal goods, by turns scorching and smoldering, with mannish chest voice at moments. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 30 Mar. 2023 Still, Freeman is the only performer here who doesn’t overact. Pat Padua, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2023 Evan Peters, who has shown a tendency to overact in projects he’s done for Ryan Murphy, contributes some of his best work here as the low-key Detective Zabel, who also takes an interest in Mare. oregonlive, 4 Aug. 2021 This was especially the case in the Vivaldi, Rachlin overacting the part of conductor-soloist. Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 19 Oct. 2019 Harrison has mastered the ability to overact, ever so slightly, so as to clue in the audience to Luce’s code-switching among his many roles: student, friend, child, self. Nora McGreevy, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overact.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overact was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near overact

Cite this Entry

“Overact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overact. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

overact

verb
over·​act ˌō-və-ˈrakt How to pronounce overact (audio)
1
: to act more than is necessary
2
: to overact a part
3
: to exaggerate in acting

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