What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hamming
Example
The actor was hamming it up on stage, making the audience laugh. [hamming: verb]
Example
She gave a hammy performance, complete with exaggerated facial expressions and gestures. [hammy: adjective]
overacting
Example
The actor's overacting ruined the emotional impact of the scene. [overacting: noun]
Example
She tends to overact in her performances, making them seem forced and unnatural. [overact: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Overacting is more commonly used than hamming in everyday language, especially in critiques of performances. However, hamming is still used in theatrical or comedic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hamming and overacting?
Neither hamming nor overacting are particularly formal terms, but overacting may be more commonly used in professional or academic settings to critique performances.
