verb
overwhelm
oh-vuh-WEHLM
verb
1
To completely overpower someone or something, whether physically or emotionally.
"The wave overwhelmed the small boat."
"She was overwhelmed with joy when she heard the news."
How to Use Overwhelm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo completely swamp or overpower someone with force, work, or feeling.
Common pairings
overwhelm with emotion
feel overwhelmed
overwhelm the defenses
Word Forms
overwhelmed past tense, overwhelms plural, overwhelms singular
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The wave _____ the small boat.
Etymology
From Middle English overwhelmen, formed from over- + an older word whelm meaning "to turn over" or "engulf."