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

After this period, Lennon and Ono would never again court the world’s attention with ambitious conceptual stunts or overt political protests. —Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025

Daniels rarely showed overt emotions but did when Mariota led Washington past Dallas in Week 18 with a late touchdown pass to McLaurin. —Ben Standig, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025

Second, compared to the alternatives, experts say the firing squad is generally thought to be easy, fast and effective, despite its overt violence, which has likely contributed to states’ hesitancy to use it. —Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025

Pictures and video of the moment captured the overt display of partisanship in a contest for the state’s highest court. —Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 6 Apr. 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