An overreaction is a response that's way bigger or more intense than the situation calls for. When your little brother spills juice on your homework and you scream like the house is on fire, that's an overreaction. The problem is real, but your response is out of proportion to what actually happened.

People overreact when their emotions take over faster than their thinking. Someone might overreact to a small criticism by refusing to speak to their friend for days, or a parent might overreact to a B-minus by grounding their kid for a month. The word suggests that a calmer, more measured response would have been more appropriate.

Sometimes people accuse others of overreacting when they simply don't want to deal with genuine concerns. If your friend says the bullying you're experiencing is “no big deal” and you're just overreacting, they might be the one misjudging the situation, not you.

The opposite of overreacting is responding proportionally: matching your reaction to the actual size and importance of the problem. When you can pause, assess what really happened, and then choose your response thoughtfully, you're less likely to overreact. Everyone overreacts sometimes, especially when tired, hungry, or already stressed about something else.