overwhelm
verb (used with object)
to overcome completely in mind or feeling.
had been overwhelming
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past perfect progressiveof overwhelm.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Chair of the independent panel, which will decide the winner, Hollyoaks writer Sir Phil Redmond said the response to the competition had been "overwhelming" and "quite literally from all four corners of the UK".
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
Its creator, known as Tee2sugars, said the response had been "overwhelming" after a campaign raised thousands of pounds to make it happen.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2023
Thousands of people had been overwhelming shelters and crowding the streets.
From New York Times ● May 11, 2023
Silver Zhan, a volunteer at the shelter, said that for many, the deluge had been overwhelming: “We’re Californians in drought. We don’t know how to respond to rain.”
From New York Times ● Jan. 11, 2023
The police had blocked off the street; the crowd’s response to the speeches urging an end to the British mandate and the establishment of a Jewish state had been overwhelming.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
