ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ott

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈɑt// ott Television
Definition

adj. too much or more than is necessary. You use this when someone's behavior or a style is so extreme that it feels silly or annoying.

adj. excessive, exaggerated, or disproportionate to the situation. An abbreviation of 'over the top'; typically used predicatively after a linking verb.


SIMPLE

His reaction to the small mistake was a bit OTT.

CONTEXTUAL

The movie's special effects were totally OTT, making the action scenes feel more like a cartoon than a thriller.

COMPLEX

While some critics appreciated the director's bold vision, others felt the operatic performances were far too OTT for such a grounded, intimate script.

Usage

Often follows linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', or 'feel'.

Pitfall

He is very over the top.He is a bit OTT.While 'over the top' is the full form, the abbreviation OTT is almost always preceded by 'a bit' or 'totally' rather than 'very' in natural speech.

Last updated May 8, 2026