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

The cover of Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend isn’t an overt homage to Playing Possum, but Simon has been recognized by modern pop stars. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025

Advertisement Read more: Veterans Condemn Trump’s ‘Misuse of Military Power’ Amid L.A. Protests Typically, U.S. presidents have avoided overt displays of military might. —Nik Popli, Time, 12 June 2025

The statement did not give an overt reason for dropping the 42-year-old Isaacman. —Andrew Jones, Space.com, 10 June 2025

The overt religious symbolism continues courtesy of anxious male nurse Sam (Jaquel Spivey), who dances his way through hospital halls while offering his patients blood-red shots of Jell-O, like some perverse yet playful communion. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 10 June 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