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
The meme was further popularized by Late Night with Conan O’Brien, which aired out-of-context clips from Walker, Texas Ranger that reinforced his over-the-top image. Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2026 But the joke format found its true home when users swapped in Norris, whose decades-long career as a martial artist and action hero made the over-the-top claims land with a different kind of comedic precision. Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026 The area is well known for its over-the-top properties—another $56 million estate hit the market just last month. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026 Director Ben Wheatfield’s over-the-top neo-Western lassoes nonstop mayhem. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 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 23 Mar. 2026.

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