overplay

verb

over·​play ˌō-vər-ˈplā 

overplayed; overplaying; overplays

transitive verb

1

a

: to present (a dramatic role) extravagantly : exaggerate

b

: to place too much emphasis on

2

: to rely too much on the strength of

—usually used in the phrase overplay one's hand

3

: to strike a golf ball beyond (a putting green)

intransitive verb

: to exaggerate a part or effect

Examples of overplay in a Sentence

The network news overplayed the story just to get good ratings.

He overplayed the death scene.

Recent Examples on the Web

The need to continue developing faster and bigger networks may therefore be overplayed today. —IEEE Spectrum, 9 Feb. 2025

The uselessness of law enforcement can be overplayed in some lesser horror films to the point of losing tension. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2025

In last month’s Super Bowl, the Chiefs overplayed the run. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2025

At that point, Trump will have overplayed his hand. —Nicholas Mulder, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing overplay

• overplay one's cards
• overplay one's hand

Rhymes for overplay

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Kids Definition

overplay

verb

over·​play ˌō-vər-ˈplā 

1

: exaggerate, overemphasize

newspapers overplayed the story

2

: to rely too much on the strength of

overplayed my hand and lost