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

Moreover, even though overt colonial rule was largely gone by the 1960s, the Cold War imposed another set of dependencies. —Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Sep. 2024

However, not all of the costumes will feature as many overt clues as Dust Bunny. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 12 Sep. 2024

Many researchers now believe that beyond a substance’s overt toxicities, its persistence alone should be a basis for its regulation, because any release of the substance into the environment will likely be irreversible. —Nathan Donley, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2024

A number of venders on the route avoid overt political messaging. —Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024

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

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