overt

1 of 2

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

overtness

2 of 2

noun

overt·​ness

"+nə̇s

plural -es

: the quality or state of being overt

Examples of overt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Both Karayel and Akdulger are strong in roles that require them to portray deep turmoil without much dialogue or overt drama. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026

Learning how to participate authentically, provide real value and avoid turning community conversations into overt sales pitches can make all the difference. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Critics sometimes complained about the lack of overt politics in Annie’s books, as though the questions that obsessed her—how to value human lives, and whose, and on what terms—were politically nugatory. — Robert P. Baird, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026

The timeframe also places the play’s overt sexism in a different cultural context. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from past participle of ovrir to open, from Vulgar Latin *operire, alteration of Latin aperire

First Known Use

Adjective

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