Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
verb
To act in an exaggerated manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: acting, broadcasting, entertainment, film, lifestyle, media, television, theater
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To act upon, or influence, unduly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
exaggerate one's acting
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: ham it up, ham, overplay
Antonyms: underact
Broader terms: act, play, roleplay, playact
History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úp Proto-Indo-European *-er Proto-Indo-European *upér Proto-Germanic *uber Old English ofer- Middle English over- English over- Latin agō Latin ācta Old French actbor. Middle English acte English act English overact From over- + act.
Across languages
15 source translations are retained for this English entry.
