drama queen

American

noun

Informal. a person who often has exaggerated or overly emotional reactions to events or situations.

You're such a drama queen! You always have to have all the attention.

drama queen British

noun

informal a person who tends to react to every situation in an overdramatic or exaggerated manner

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

drama queens

plural

Etymology

Origin of drama queen

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

drama queen

Outside, in the back garden, is the Museum Shed, with a sign saying "drama queen" over the door.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

“Some people use the phrase drama queen as a negative,” Jay quipped early in the telecast to pivot the show to the supporting drama categories.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2022

“She said that I was a drama queen from when I was a child,” Johnson says, then laughing adds: “I don’t agree.”

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 28, 2022

Her mother can be a bit of a drama queen, and as time has gone on, Michelle feels like the way she reacts to stressful situations mirrors that of her mother.

From Slate ● Oct. 27, 2020

Now I look like some immature drama queen.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023