overreact
Americanverb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of overreact
Explanation
To overreact is to respond to something in an overly excited, angry, or fearful way. If you're pretty sure your dad will overreact when he hears about your fender bender, you might want to tell your mom first. Whenever someone reacts more emotionally than seems appropriate, they overreact. You might overreact to a happy plot twist in your favorite TV show by cheering and jumping up and down — and a city bus driver might overreact to a passenger listening to loud music by pulling the bus over to the side of the road and turning to yell angrily. Overreact was first used in the 1960s, probably by historian and literary critic Lewis Mumford.
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.
Like Wilkerson said—investors still need to pay attention, but they don’t have to overreact.
From Barron's • May 7, 2026
"I did overreact, yes, in the way I reacted. It could have been different but I ended up losing my head," added Neymar.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
If you lived through the 1970s oil shocks, you may overreact when you see $4 a gallon at the pump.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
“I think panic is the wrong word, but I didn’t overreact on Thursday …” he said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
One must never overreact to the spoils of one’s windfall.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
