verb
- to act with exaggerated emotion or gestures, especially in a theatrical performance
Usage: often used in criticism of acting
Examples
- The young actor tends to overact in dramatic scenes.
- She overacted her surprise when she opened the gift.
- The director told him not to overact the death scene.
- Many child actors overact because they think bigger is better.
- He overacted his anger, making the scene seem unrealistic.
- The comedian deliberately overacts for comedic effect.