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Definition of overt

overt

/oʊˈvɜːrt/
o · vert
Adverb:overtly
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overt Lexical Profile

overt Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Done or shown openly and plainly, without any attempt at concealment or secrecy.

Example

"Although there was no overt hostility during the meeting, the tension between the two directors was palpable."

2

In psychology and behavioral science, observable by others as physical action or behavior, rather than existing purely as an internal mental state.

Example

"The study examined how internal anxiety manifests as overt behavioral changes in classroom settings."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for overt

• Nearby Words

oversuspicious
oversweet
oversweeten
overt
overtake
overtalk
overtask

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in Middle English from Old French overt ('opened'), the past participle of ovrir ('to open'), which ultimately derives from Vulgar Latin *operire, an alteration of Classical Latin aperire ('to open, uncover').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Overt. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/overt
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