overreact
verb (used without object)
to react or respond more strongly than is necessary or appropriate.
overreacted
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past participleof overreact.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof overreact.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
overreactverb (used without object)to react or respond more strongly than is necessary or appropriate.
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.
“They overreacted, and there’s proof that they overreacted because now there’s a framework that makes sense,” Lutnick said in an interview with Bloomberg TV at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026
Michael Sansoterra, chief investment officer at Silvant Capital Management, thinks investors have overreacted.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 7, 2025
In the food court, two freshmen debated whether the university had overreacted with the new police patrols and K-9 unit.
From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2025
An optimist would say the market overreacted and now it’s time to get on with our lives.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2025
We walked back to the barn, a bit sheepish from having overreacted.
From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green
