What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
manifest
Example
The artist's love for nature was manifest in her paintings. [manifest: adjective]
Example
The symptoms of the disease began to manifest themselves after a few days. [manifest: verb]
Example
The protest was a manifest expression of the people's dissatisfaction with the government. [manifest: noun]
overt
Example
His overt hostility towards his coworkers made it difficult to work with him. [overt: adjective]
Example
The company's overt discrimination against women led to a lawsuit. [overt: noun]
Example
She made an overt attempt to get his attention by flirting with him. [overt: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Overt is more commonly used than manifest in everyday language, especially in legal or political contexts. Manifest is less common and is often used in more specialized or academic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between manifest and overt?
Both manifest and overt can be used in formal and informal contexts, but overt is generally considered more neutral and versatile in terms of formality.
