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

This move suggests the possibility that Iran will push past threshold status and become an overt nuclear power. —Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025

The Freedom From Religion Foundation also reported Jeffress to the IRS for his overt support of Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence in 2020. —Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 11 July 2025

More overt destruction and patch and repair are trending in Lee’s younger women’s collection, while Lee’s mainline always does well with subtle wash patterns, as well as cleaner, dark indigo washes. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 7 July 2025

Producers like Cantina Tramin craft benchmark examples that maintain exotic spice and rose petal lift while dialling back overt sweetness, especially when paired with food. —Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025

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