: open to view : manifest
overt hostility
overt symptoms of the disease
overt discrimination
both overt and covert military action
overtness noun

Examples of overt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That is pretty much the only moment in the movie when a character makes an overt statement with an aptly environmentalist agenda. Tomris Laffly, Time, 6 Sep. 2025 Lee is less overt, but the building does play a key role in the crime. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 4 Sep. 2025 Ted Sarandos, Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai tend to avoid controversy and overt politics. Christian Josi, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025 The plan in Missouri and other states would be an overt use of partisan gerrymandering, a term used to describe the practice of redrawing electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overt

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from past participle of ovrir to open, from Vulgar Latin *operire, alteration of Latin aperire

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overt was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overt. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

overt

adjective
: open to view : not secret
overt hostility
overtly adverb
overtness noun

Medical Definition

overt

adjective
ō-ˈvərt, ˈō-ˌvərt also ˈō-vərt
: open to view : readily perceived
overt behavior
overtly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on overt

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