overt

adjective

ō-ˈvərt  ˈō-(ˌ)vərt 

: 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

Stewart, though, has been extremely careful to avoid overt advocacy—the rare exception being a successful 2010 push to get congressional Republicans to pass health care coverage for 9/11 first responders. — Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026

These results were more overt when the analysts factored in class and status dynamics. — Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

While an overt advertisement can be quite obvious to spot, comments and posts meant to steer AI answers are designed to blend in—and telling the difference between the two, beyond reasonable doubt, may not be possible. — Cody Luongo, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Taylor Swift makes subtle and overt references to her relationship with Travis Kelce in her music. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 4 July 2026

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

Rhymes for overt

• alert
• assert
• avert
• dessert
• divert
• evert
• exert
• inert
• insert
• invert
• nightshirt
• revert

Kids Definition

overt

adjective

ō-ˈvərt  ˈō-(ˌ)vərt 

: 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