Synonyms

overcome

American

[oh-ver-kuhm] / ˌoʊ vərˈkʌm /

verb (used with object)

to get the better of in a struggle or conflict; conquer; defeat.

to overcome the enemy.

Synonyms:

vanquish
to prevail over (opposition, a debility, temptations, etc.); surmount.

to overcome one's weaknesses.
to overpower or overwhelm in body or mind, as does liquor, a drug, exertion, or emotion.

I was overcome with grief.
Archaic. to overspread or overrun.

verb (used without object)

to gain the victory; win; conquer.

a plan to overcome by any means possible.

overcome British

/ ˌəʊvəˈkʌm /

verb

(tr) to get the better of in a conflict
(tr; often passive) to render incapable or powerless by laughter, sorrow, exhaustion, etc

he was overcome by fumes
(tr) to surmount (obstacles, objections, etc)
(intr) to be victorious

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See defeat.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of overcome

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English ofercuman; see over-, come

Explanation

Use the verb overcome when you talk about someone who has triumphed over adversity. It's great to see a friend who's always struggled in school overcome his learning disabilities and make the honor roll. You can also be overcome with emotions, or overwhelmed by your feelings. Many people feel so overcome with sadness at a movie — or happiness at a wedding — that they regret not bringing a pile of tissues with them. The verb overcome also means to win or surpass. If you are going to win the marathon, you are going to have to overcome having five runners ahead of you.

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Vocabulary lists containing overcome

List 1

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Brown Girl Dreaming

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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.

Novak Djokovic claimed the all-time record for most men's singles match wins at Wimbledon, but had to overcome moments of visible frustration to beat qualifier Roman Safiullin and reach the quarter-finals.

From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026

When England descend from altitude, touch down back at Heathrow and face Fiji in Liverpool, they will need to show they can overcome those at a lower level.

From BBC • Jul. 4, 2026

"I have enormous respect for Michelle; I am convinced we will overcome this difficult moment and that she will walk alongside us," said Flavio Bolsonaro.

From Barron's • Jul. 3, 2026

At another point, Stephen Colbert gets through most of “The Summer Day” before appearing quite genuinely overcome; author Jason Reynolds steps in for the final lines, and then admits himself “verklempt.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026

It might seem a marriage made in heaven, but there were still hurdles to be overcome before Kepler could achieve the breakthrough that made him a key figure in the history of science.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023