overact

verb

over·​act ˌō-vər-ˈakt 

overacted; overacting; overacts

intransitive verb

1

: to act more than is necessary

2

: to overact a part

transitive verb

: to exaggerate in acting

overaction

ˌō-vər-ˈak-shən 

noun

Examples of overact in a Sentence

His tendency to overact made his performance less realistic.

Recent Examples on the Web

One could easily be accused of overacting, of doing too much. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025

There are few instances of someone overacting more in a movie, unnecessarily adding an undercurrent of murderous, jokey psychotic to an already bizarre creation. —Mark Kennedy, Boston Herald, 13 Dec. 2024

The college student performers from the Hartt School aren’t encouraged to overact during the party scene anymore — no more drunk jokes or pratfalls. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Dec. 2024

In regard to overacting, Pacino addresses it on a case-by-case basis: Some movies call for it, like Scarface. —Chris Stanton, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2024

The performances seems inspired by the over-the-top techniques of actors who tried to do too much when sound finally came to films, but were used to overacting. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 25 Sep. 2024

Their turns are driven to cartoonish overacting in great part by the words they’ve been asked to say in English and in angry tones. —Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 30 Aug. 2024

Meanwhile, Greenblatt’s playfully mischievous demeanor as Tina often reads as overacting. —Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2024

The welcome lack of overacting is evident throughout the show. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for overact

• artefact
• artifact
• counteract
• inexact
• interact
• noncontact
• reenact
• subcontract
• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact

Kids Definition

overact

verb

over·​act ˌō-və-ˈrakt 

1

: to act more than is necessary

2

: to overact a part

3

: to exaggerate in acting