overplay

[ oh-ver-pley ]
See synonyms for: overplayoverplayed on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to exaggerate or overemphasize (one's role in a play, an emotion, an effect, etc.): The young actor overplayed Hamlet shamelessly. The director of the movie had overplayed the pathos.

  2. to put too much stress on the value or importance of: A charitable biographer had overplayed the man's piety and benevolence.

  1. Cards. to overestimate the strength of (the cards in one's hand) with consequent loss.

  2. Golf. to hit (the ball) past the putting green.

  3. Archaic. outplay.

verb (used without object)
  1. to exaggerate one's part, an effect, etc.; overact: Without a firm director she invariably overplays.

Origin of overplay

1
First recorded in 1640–50; over- + play

Words Nearby overplay

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use overplay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for overplay

overplay

/ (ˌəʊvəˈpleɪ) /


verb
  1. (tr) to exaggerate the importance of

  2. another word for overact

  1. overplay one's hand to overestimate the worth or strength of one's position

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012