overbought

American  

[oh-ver-bawt] / ˈoʊ vərˈbɔt /

adjective

1. marked by prices considered unjustifiably high because of extensive buying.

   The stock market is overbought now.

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verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of overbuy.

Etymology

Origin of overbought

First recorded in 1955–60; over- + bought

Compare meaning

How does overbought compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• overbought vs. oversold

Example Sentences

“The strong recovery has pushed prices to elevated levels and signs of overbought conditions are emerging, suggesting stocks could be due for a near-term pause or pullback,” he said.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

Technical indicators show the S&P 500 is overbought, suggesting a pause, though some see it as an entry point for a longer bull market.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

A quick look at the chart shows a nearly straight line upward, and you wouldn’t be wrong to think they look ridiculously overbought.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

This is an overbought condition, but not a sell signal for stocks.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

But that one of us twain who was singly concerned in encajes had fatigued and perhaps overbought herself at the antiquity shop, and she signified a regret which they divined too well was dissent.

From Familiar Spanish Travels by Howells, William Dean