overact
verb (used with or without object)
to act in an exaggerated manner.
overacting
-
present participleof overact.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Julian Fellowes’s 19th-century drama is still a festival of overacting and narrative absurdity, yet it feels increasingly clever in its theatricality—and Carrie Coon remains a marvel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
The overacting is exhausting because it’s not only Iñárritu’s creative choice, but rather the methods employed by the play-within-a-movie’s director.
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026
Peppery notes from Talia Shire and Jon Voight intermingle with athletic overacting by Shia LaBeouf and Dustin Hoffman.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 16, 2024
They can reveal if the people caught in action are hiding from the camera or posing for it, and if they are speaking naturally or being loud and overacting.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2023
Even Leeds’ Thespians on Demand, the famed English acting troupe known far and wide for their loud voices and shameless overacting, could not hold a candle to this family.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
