Standard Lemma guide

overplay

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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

Pronunciation

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.

  • ō'vər-plā'
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪ
  • CMU ARPABET: OW1 V ER0 P L EY1 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To overdo or overact one's effect or role.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Topics: acting, broadcasting, entertainment, film, lifestyle, media, television, theater

Examples

  • When Chris overacted his part again, the director warned that anyone overplaying would be barred from the next production.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To play (a song or record) too frequently, often to the point of causing weariness and annoyance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To overestimate one's strength in a game or event, which ultimately may end in a defeat.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive, figuratively

Examples

  • Jack won the last match of blackjack; Theo overplayed.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To accidentally hit (one's golf ball) beyond "the green".

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: golf, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

Examples

  • The first few shots went wonderfully, but Robin overplayed the last and lost.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

exaggerate one's acting

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: overact, ham it up, ham

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: act, play, roleplay, playact

History

Etymology

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- English play English overplay From over- + play.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: преигравам (preigravam) — To overdo or overact one's effect or role
  • Dutch: overdrijven — To overdo or overact one's effect or role
  • Dutch: overacteren — To overdo or overact one's effect or role
  • French: surjouer — To overdo or overact one's effect or role
  • Spanish: sobreactuar — To overdo or overact one's effect or role
  • Dutch: overdrijven — To present something more dramatically than necessary
  • Dutch: dramatiseren — To present something more dramatically than necessary
  • French: surjouer — To present something more dramatically than necessary
  • Dutch: zich overschatten — To overestimate one's strength in a game or event
  • French: surjouer — To overestimate one's strength in a game or event
  • Spanish: sobreestimar — To overestimate one's strength in a game or event
  • Spanish: superusar — To overestimate one's strength in a game or event
  • Spanish: hiperutilizar — To overestimate one's strength in a game or event
  • Dutch: uitslaan — To accidentally hit (one's golf ball) beyond the green