over the top

1 of 2

phrase

: beyond the bounds of what is expected, usual, normal, or appropriate
: extremely or excessively flamboyant or outrageous
an over-the-top performance

Examples of over the top in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
At one point, Styles’ car crashes beneath a truck and bursts into flames, one of several over-the-top moments that playfully mimic Hollywood action films. ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026 Stir cocoa powder, coffee, and cinnamon into the batter and layer with a package of dark chocolate chips for over-the-top chocolate taste. Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026 Her most over-the-top travel experience came courtesy of a trip to Dubai with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where the cast stayed in an enormous villa. David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026 Chris Cooper, 'Adaptation' (2003) Cooper goes all in with an over-the-top personality in this very strange meta dramedy. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for over the top

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1980, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of over the top was in 1980

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Over the top.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/over%20the%20top. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

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