overact

verb

over·​act ˌō-vər-ˈakt How to pronounce overact (audio)
overacted; overacting; overacts
Synonyms of overactnext

intransitive verb

1
: to act more than is necessary
a performer known for overacting
2
: to overact a part

transitive verb

: to exaggerate in acting
overaction
ˌō-vər-ˈak-shən How to pronounce overact (audio)
noun

Examples of overact in a Sentence

His tendency to overact made his performance less realistic.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One could easily be accused of overacting, of doing too much. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025 Wiyoko is unable to match her, always overacting with gestures galore. — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 15 Dec. 2025 On-screen, the speech’s prestige can overwhelm its existential subject matter, and the passage tends to get overacted. — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2025 That secret shakes Charlie’s love for his intended, messes with work, affects his performance in bed and prompts him to spiral out, overacting at every step. — Mark Kennedy, Boston Herald, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overact

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overact was in 1611

Rhymes for overact

See All Rhymes for overact

Browse Nearby Words

overachiever
overact
overaction
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overact. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

overact

verb
over·​act ˌō-və-ˈrakt How to pronounce overact (audio)
1
: to act more than is necessary
2
: to overact a part
3
: to exaggerate in acting

More from Merriam-Webster on overact

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for overact

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