overreacting
|o-ver-re-act-ing|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˌoʊvərriˈæktɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˌəʊvərriˈæktɪŋ/
(overreact)
excessive response
Etymology
Etymology Information
'overreact' originates from the prefix 'over-' meaning 'excessively' and the verb 'react' meaning 'to respond to a stimulus'.
Historical Evolution
'overreact' was formed by combining 'over-' with 'react' in the 20th century.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to respond excessively to a stimulus', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to respond more emotionally or forcibly than is justified.
She tends to overreact when things don't go her way.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:40