overwhelm
verb (used with object)
to overcome completely in mind or feeling.
had overwhelmed
-
past perfectof overwhelm.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
A woman said hunger and poverty had "overwhelmed everyone".
From BBC ● May 27, 2025
Lue was the calm Clippers coach at a time when the Dallas Mavericks had overwhelmed his team and changed the momentum of the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2024
A police officer told The Associated Press that the gangs had overwhelmed security forces but were not yet in control of the prison, where several gang leaders were being held.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 2, 2024
However, hospitals visited by Reuters in Shanghai and Chengdu, as well as others around the country depicted in images and videos posted on social media, had overwhelmed emergency departments and long queues at fever clinics.
From Reuters ● Jan. 10, 2023
Most people didn’t understand how what amounted to a two-decade boom in the bond market had overwhelmed everything else.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
