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

Some boys recalibrate, softening overt bravado. —Soraya Chemaly, Time, 24 Nov. 2025

Manuka Stratta, a member of OpenAI’s technical staff, told reporters at an event that ChatGPT can understand overt and covert intent from users. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 24 Nov. 2025

Researchers are now using similar tests in clinical trials to identify people even before overt symptoms appear. —Dr. Robert R. Redfield, Boston Herald, 23 Nov. 2025

As the pyramid moves up to a point, the examples cross into overt white supremacy, including racial slurs and burning crosses, with lynching at the top. —Cate Charron, IndyStar, 18 Nov. 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