overcome
oh-vuh-KUHM
Overcome (verb) means to successfully deal with or defeat a difficulty or obstacle. Example: “She overcame her fear of flying after years of therapy.”
verb
1
To successfully deal with or defeat a difficulty or obstacle.
"She overcame her fear of flying after years of therapy."
"The team overcame a ten-point deficit to win the game."
adj
1
Emotionally overwhelmed, especially by strong feeling.
"He was overcome with joy when he saw his daughter graduate."
"The old man was overcome with grief at the funeral and could not speak."
"Overcome by emotion, she hugged everyone in the room and wept quietly."
How to use overcome
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo beat a problem, or to be overwhelmed by a strong emotion.
Common mistake
As an adjective ("overcome with grief"), it describes being emotionally flooded, not defeated.
Common pairings
overcome an obstacle
overcome with emotion
overcome adversity
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Word forms
- Plural
- overcomes
- Third person singular
- overcomes
- Past tense
- overcame
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He was _____ with joy when he saw his daughter graduate.
Etymology
From Old English ofercuman, "to overcome, conquer," from over- + come.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for overcome
See all rhymes for overcome →Frequently asked questions
What does “overcome” mean?
The word “overcome” means to successfully deal with or defeat a difficulty or obstacle. In plain terms, to beat a problem, or to be overwhelmed by a strong emotion.
How do you pronounce “overcome”?
“Overcome” is pronounced oh-vuh-KUHM (/ˌoʊ.vəɹˈkʌm/ in IPA).
How do you use “overcome” in a sentence?
Here is “overcome” used in a sentence: “He was overcome with joy when he saw his daughter graduate.”
What part of speech is “overcome”?
Depending on how it is used, “overcome” can be a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “overcome” come from?
The word “overcome” comes from Old English. From Old English ofercuman, "to overcome, conquer," from over- + come.
Is “overcome” a common word?
“Overcome” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “overcome” have?
“Overcome” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to successfully deal with or defeat a difficulty or obstacle.
What is the difference between overcome and defeat?
Overcome means to successfully deal with or get past a difficulty or obstacle, often through effort or persistence. Defeat usually implies beating an opponent or rival, whereas overcome more often applies to challenges, fears, or problems.
What is the past tense of overcome?
The past tense is overcame, and the past participle is overcome, the same as the base form. For example, you overcame the difficulty yesterday, and by now you have overcome it.
Which prepositions follow overcome?
In its emotional sense, overcome is commonly followed by by or with, as in overcome by grief or overcome with joy. When it means to defeat an obstacle, it usually takes a direct object, as in overcome the difficulty.
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