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

For men, fashion pieces aren’t quite as overt. —Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026

Not only was Farrell an overt negative as a run blocker, but Purdy’s game-sealing (and that’s being generous to the Niners) interception in the second half came when Farrell just decided he was done running the scramble drill. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026

Under Biden, Powell did not experience overt pressure from the White House, but there was soft pressure on the Fed not to choke off the recovery, and to align with the executive during a crisis. —Roger Lowenstein, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2026

Some extremism experts say the messaging has become overt. —Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 16 Jan. 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