overplay
verb
over·play
ˌō-vər-ˈplā 
overplayed; overplaying; overplays
1
a
: to present (a dramatic role) extravagantly : exaggerate
b
: to place too much emphasis on
2
: to rely too much on the strength of
—usually used in the phrase overplay one's hand
3
: to strike a golf ball beyond (a putting green)
: to exaggerate a part or effect
Examples of overplay in a Sentence
The network news overplayed the story just to get good ratings.
He overplayed the death scene.
Recent Examples on the Web
People who like to show their cards sometimes overplay them.
—
Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
When Colorado State overplayed the interior, Maryland was able to make the Rams pay for it in high-leverage situations.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
So, what is left to protect the nation from any force that would overplay its hand.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2025
Bong Joon Ho Comments South Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s Oscar-winning Parasite, a lacerating thriller about a family of grifters who overplay their hand, is arguably the greatest film of the past decade.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overplay
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Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
When Colorado State overplayed the interior, Maryland was able to make the Rams pay for it in high-leverage situations.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
So, what is left to protect the nation from any force that would overplay its hand.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2025
Bong Joon Ho Comments South Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s Oscar-winning Parasite, a lacerating thriller about a family of grifters who overplay their hand, is arguably the greatest film of the past decade.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overplay
Cite this Entry
“Overplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overplay. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overplay
verb
over·play
ˌō-vər-ˈplā
1
: exaggerate, overemphasize
newspapers overplayed the story
2
: to rely too much on the strength of
overplayed my hand and lost
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