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

Mitchell sees these overt homages as a form of transparency. —Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2025

Given the size and importance of the northern bloc, overt repression of Tchiroma was much riskier for Biya. —Yonatan Morse, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025

The State Department said travelers who do go to South Africa should avoid walking alone, especially after dark, avoid large crowds, drive with their doors locked and windows closed, and avoid displaying overt signs of wealth. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2025

Sometimes, the promotion of illiberal visions of governance and development is even more overt. —Nic Cheeseman, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 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