Overreact

Pronunciation: /ˌoʊvərɹiˈækt/

Definitions of overreact

verb to react more strongly or emotionally than is necessary or appropriate

Example Sentences

A1 She tends to overreact to small problems.

A2 Don't overreact to criticism, take it constructively.

B1 It's important not to overreact in stressful situations.

B2 He tends to overreact when things don't go his way.

C1 She realized she had a tendency to overreact and worked on managing her emotions.

C2 It's crucial to remain calm and not overreact in high-pressure situations.

Examples of overreact in a Sentence

formal It is important not to overreact to minor setbacks in a professional setting.

informal Hey, don't overreact to that small mistake, it's not a big deal.

slang Chill out, dude, you're totally overreacting right now.

figurative She tends to overreact to any criticism, blowing it out of proportion.

Grammatical Forms of overreact

• past tense: overreacted
• plural: overreacts
• comparative: more overreactive
• superlative: most overreactive
• present tense: overreact
• future tense: will overreact
• perfect tense: have overreacted
• continuous tense: is overreacting
• singular: overreact
• positive degree: overreact
• infinitive: to overreact
• gerund: overreacting
• participle: overreacted

Origin and Evolution of overreact

First Known Use: 1940 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'overreact' is believed to have originated from the prefix 'over-' meaning excessive or beyond, combined with the word 'react' which means to respond or act in a certain way.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe an excessive or exaggerated response to a situation, the word 'overreact' has evolved to encompass a range of emotional and behavioral reactions that are perceived as disproportionate to the stimulus.