overthink

verb

over·​think ˌō-vər-ˈthiŋk 

overthought ˌō-vər-ˈthȯt  ; overthinking

transitive + intransitive

: to think too much about (something) : to put too much time into thinking about or analyzing (something) in a way that is more harmful than helpful

overthink a situation/problem

someone who overthinks and worries too much

"I was a terrible actor when I went to New York. I was scared. I would overprepare, sometimes overthink a role."

—Paul Newman

For a while now, I've been finding current fiction hard to read: airlessly competent, relentlessly put-together, overthought.

—David Gates

overthinker noun

plural overthinkers

But the problem is I'm an overthinker. I contemplate and consider, deliberate and debate things small and large in my life. Simple things become complicated and easy decisions become complex.

—Alyssa Meier

Examples of overthink in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Dodgers shouldn’t overthink Game 5, which should be a bullpen game, columnist Dylan Hernández writes. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024

And fearlessness, like a child who doesn’t overthink decisions, leads to innovation. —Jane Hanson, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024

The temptation to overthink is real, but this is an opportunity to reflect on your personal goals and recent growth. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 7 Oct. 2024

On the plus side, Libras are known for seeing all sides of a situation, which, unfortunately, is an easy way to overthink everything and become indecisive as hell. —Anna Borges, SELF, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above