overture

American  

[oh-ver-cher, -choor] / ˈoʊ vər tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər /

noun

1. an opening or initiating move toward negotiations, a new relationship, an agreement, etc.; a formal or informal proposal or offer.

   overtures of peace; a shy man who rarely made overtures of friendship.

2. Music.

   1. an orchestral composition forming the prelude or introduction to an opera, oratorio, etc.

   2. an independent piece of similar character.

3. an introductory part, as of a poem; prelude; prologue.

4. (in Presbyterian churches)

   1. the action of an ecclesiastical court in submitting a question or proposal to presbyteries.

   2. the proposal or question so submitted.

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verb (used with object)

overtured, overturing

1. to submit as an overture or proposal.

   to overture conditions for a ceasefire.

2. to make an overture or proposal to.

   to overture one's adversary through a neutral party.

overture British  

/ ˈəʊvəˌtjʊə /

noun

1. music

   1. a piece of orchestral music containing contrasting sections that is played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio, often containing the main musical themes of the work

   2. a similar piece preceding the performance of a play

   3. Also called: concert overture.  a one-movement orchestral piece, usually having a descriptive or evocative title

   4. a short piece in three movements ( French overture or Italian overture ) common in the 17th and 18th centuries

2. (often plural) a proposal, act, or gesture initiating a relationship, negotiation, etc

3. something that introduces what follows

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verb

1. to make or present an overture to

2. to introduce with an overture

overture Cultural  

1. A piece of music for instruments alone, written as an introduction to a longer work, such as an opera, an oratorio, or a musical comedy.

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Related Words

See proposal.

Etymology

Origin of overture

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French; overt, -ure; doublet of aperture

Explanation

An overture is a piece of music played by an orchestra at the beginning of an opera or play. When an overture begins, the actors take their places and wait for the curtain to rise. The noun overture can also mean "a suggestion or approach designed to get a reaction." Your romantic overture of singing to your girlfriend in the restaurant was met with an embarrassed stare. An overture can also be an event that comes first, like your story about how the after-school program has helped hundreds of kids, an overture to the plea for donations you made next.

Example Sentences

Pakistan offered to mediate peace talks, an overture President Trump amplified on social media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

In a diplomatic overture, the Communist regime is aiming to open up its moribund economy to the affluent Cuban-American diaspora.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

In the popular overture, elicitation of tumult concludes, with startling exhilaration, in the kind of grand Beethovenian triumph that never fails to excite.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

Pyongyang has not responded to the overture from Lee, who has sought to mend fractured ties with the North.

From Barron's • Dec. 26, 2025

They played a duet from “Zampa,” and at the earnest solicitation of every one present followed it with the overture to “The Poet and the Peasant.”

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

Related Words

• bid
• invitation
• presentation
• proposal
• proposition
• signal
• suggestion