Google has changed how AI Overviews behave on definition queries. Previously, the full AI-generated answer was hidden behind a 'Show more' click. Now it renders in full by default. Google has applied this to all definition searches, not just selected ones it was dynamically expanding before.
On its own, that sounds like a minor interface tweak. But the downstream effect on click behaviour, content visibility and citation strategy is worth unpacking properly.
Why Definition Queries Matter in AEO
Definition queries - 'what is X', 'what does Y mean', 'how does Z work' - sit at the top of almost every buying journey. In B2B especially, a prospect who searches 'what is [your category]' is often at the awareness stage. They are not ready to convert, but they are forming the mental model that will shape which brands they later consider.
If your brand is cited in the AI Overview that answers that definition, you are inside that mental model from the first moment. If you are not, you are absent from the most visible response the user sees - and in many cases, that response now takes up considerably more screen space than it did when it required a click to expand.
Definition queries have always been difficult territory for organic visibility. They tend to generate featured snippets, knowledge panels and direct answers. The expansion of AI Overviews into this space by default makes the competitive dynamic sharper, not softer.
What 'Expanded by Default' Actually Does to Click Patterns
When a user had to click 'Show more' to see the full AI Overview, there was a reasonable chance they would scroll past it or interact with organic results before or after expanding it. That friction, however small, created some passage of users to the organic listings underneath.
With the full definition shown immediately, there is no friction. The user gets a complete, structured answer the moment the page loads. For many definition queries, that is enough. The intent was satisfied. The click to a source page becomes optional rather than necessary.
This does not mean definition query traffic goes to zero. Users who want more depth, want to verify the source, or find the cited brand credible will still click through. But the volume that does will be lower than it was when the AI answer required expansion. Tracking this shift in Google Search Console, specifically watching impressions versus clicks on definitional query types, is now a measurement priority.
The Citation Opportunity Inside the Overview
Being cited inside the AI Overview itself is not consolation for lost organic traffic. It is a genuine visibility asset. A brand name appearing in the AI-generated definition - as a source, an example, or the named originator of a concept - reaches every user who sees that overview, regardless of whether they click.
The question is what earns that citation. For definition queries, Google's AI tends to draw on content that is clearly structured, directly answers the question in the opening paragraph, uses consistent terminology, and comes from sources it has established as authoritative on the topic. That means glossary pages, structured FAQ content, and explanatory articles written to answer a specific 'what is' question - not buried within a broader piece.
If your site has definitional content that sprawls, buries the core answer below marketing copy, or uses inconsistent terminology across pages, it is less likely to be extracted and cited. Tightening that content - leading with a clean, citable definition in the first 50 to 100 words - is the practical intervention.
How to Structure Definitional Content for AI Extraction
The fundamentals of AI-extractable content apply here with particular force. Lead the page with a one or two sentence definition that is self-contained. It should make sense if read in isolation, because that is precisely how AI systems often use it. Follow that with supporting explanation, examples, and context - but do not make the AI hunt through several paragraphs before it reaches the actual definition.
Schema markup using DefinedTerm or FAQPage types signals to Google that this content is explicitly definitional. That is not a guarantee of citation, but it is a clear signal that reduces ambiguity about what your content is trying to do. Pair that with consistent use of the term across your site - in page titles, headings, and body content - so that entity association between your brand and the concept is reinforced.
On Perplexity and ChatGPT, the same structural logic applies. These platforms also favour content that directly and clearly answers a question in the opening lines. A well-structured glossary or 'what is' page that your site produces is reusable AEO infrastructure - it serves multiple AI surfaces simultaneously, not just Google.
Measuring the Impact Through Your Funnel
For teams measuring AI search through the funnel, definition query changes create a specific tracking challenge. If you have been attributing some top-of-funnel awareness to organic traffic from definitional terms, that traffic may fall while AI-driven brand recognition remains steady or improves. The two signals can move in opposite directions.
The gap is best closed through combined measurement. Track organic click volume from definition-type queries in Search Console and watch for divergence from impressions. Separately, monitor branded search volume and direct traffic patterns as a proxy for awareness - if users encounter your brand name in an AI Overview, their next action may be a branded search rather than a click from that result.
If your CRM captures lead source alongside first touch, you can begin to see whether contacts who eventually convert had a touchpoint that looks like AI-influenced awareness - arriving via branded search, navigating directly, or citing your name in a form field without a traceable referral. It is imprecise, but it is more useful than ignoring the channel entirely.
What to Prioritise Now
Start by auditing which definition and 'what is' queries your site currently ranks for, or is gaining impressions on, in Search Console. These are the pages most affected by this change. For each one, check whether the definitional content is front-loaded and self-contained, whether appropriate schema is in place, and whether the terminology is consistent across the site.
If you do not have dedicated definitional pages for the core concepts in your category, build them. Not as thin glossary stubs, but as properly structured, substantive pages that answer the question completely. These serve AI surfaces, build topical authority, and act as internal linking hubs for broader content.
The broader point is this: Google showing full AI Overview definitions by default is a signal about the direction of travel, not an isolated feature update. AI systems are increasingly handling the informational layer of search directly. The brands that earn citations inside that layer - rather than relying on clicks beneath it - are positioning themselves correctly for how definition queries now actually work.