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

Taking action takes many forms—some overt and some subtle. —Jennifer Palmer, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025

Across the nine-day event, designers largely kept a safe distance from overt political statements and instead leaned into offering a space for escapism and more subtle explorations of empowerment. —Alice Pfeiffer, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025

The prosecution argued that while Manson did not order the murders, his ideology was an overt act of conspiracy. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025

Combs then proceeded to grope Plaintiff in an overt attempt to assert dominance over him, humiliating Plaintiff in the presence of others. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 1 Mar. 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