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Definition of "overplay" []

  • To present (a dramatic role, for example) in an exaggerated manner. (verb-transitive)
  • To emphasize or stress unduly. (verb-transitive)
  • To overestimate the strength of (one's holding or position) with resulting defeat: overplayed his hand and lost the game. (verb-transitive)
  • Sports To hit (a golf ball) beyond the green. (verb-transitive)
  • To overdo a role or an effect. (verb-intransitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "overplay" in a sentence
  • "I'm sorry, how exactly did Sen. Obama "overplay" Gov."
  • "Or the loser would become a winner and overplay his hand until he's a complete cad, before reconnecting with his ex-, which turns him back into his former sweet self."
  • "So it's tempting for everyone — from researchers who want to further their careers to journalists looking for a scoop — to overplay preliminary results."