over the top

1 of 2

phrase

: beyond the bounds of what is expected, usual, normal, or appropriate
: extremely or excessively flamboyant or outrageous
an over-the-top performance

Examples of over the top in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Nicholson's fireworks would be subsequently aped, and amped up to over-the-top proportions, by other actors and by the future Batman villain himself. Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026 Instead, The Standard, Ibiza, presents itself as a bolthole for an in-the-know, sophisticated, and louche crowd that wants a bit of buzz but without any over-the-top hoopla. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2026 But there has to be something over-the-top in the text — or on the screen — to stoke the explosive nature of that drive. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026 The behemoth roadside spectacle also welcomes travelers with dozens of gas pumps, a grinning beaver mascot, and a country-store-feeling home section stocked with over-the-top souvenirs. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for over the top

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1980, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of over the top was in 1980

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Over the top.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/over%20the%20top. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

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