noun

overture

/ˈoʊvərtʃər/ · say it: OH·vur·chur

an orchestral piece opening an opera or concert

In Arts & Culture

In more detail

1. (noun) a piece of music played at the beginning of an opera, musical, or concert

2. (noun) an opening move or proposal intended to start negotiations or establish a relationship

Examples

1. The orchestra played a dramatic overture before the curtain rose on the ballet. 2. The new ambassador made peaceful overtures to the neighboring country.

How to use overture

As a musical term, an overture is the instrumental piece preceding a dramatic work. More broadly, an overture is an initial proposal or gesture toward negotiation or reconciliation, often used in diplomatic or business contexts. It emphasizes the first move in establishing communication or agreement.

Common phrases

make an overture
reject an overture
peace overture
musical overture
open overtures

Synonyms

prelude · introduction · opening · proposal · advance

Word family

overtured (verb, rare)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse overture with overtime or mistake it solely for a musical term, missing its important diplomatic sense as an opening proposal or gesture of goodwill.

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