Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for overcome on Thesaurus.com verb (used with object), o·ver·came, o·ver·come, o·ver·com·ing. to get the better of in a struggle or conflict; conquer; defeat: to overcome the enemy. 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. Show More
verb (used without object), o·ver·came, o·ver·come, o·ver·com·ing. to gain the victory; win; conquer: a plan to overcome by any means possible. Show More
Origin of overcome before 900; Middle English; Old English ofercuman. See
over- ,
come Related forms o·ver·com·er , noun un·o·ver·come , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for overcome crush ,
overwhelm ,
win ,
reduce ,
overpower ,
weather ,
conquer ,
survive ,
surmount ,
stun ,
affected ,
beaten ,
defeated ,
buried ,
taken ,
swamped ,
conquered ,
lick ,
render ,
subdue Examples from the Web for overcome Contemporary Examples of overcome She fails to appreciate the congressional and constitutional obstacles Johnson had to overcome to win passage of the bill.
She was separated from her colleagues after they were overcome by smoke and heat and ordered to withdraw.
To overcome these impediments, at least two tour operators bring visitors into the region.
What kind of advice would you give to young women to overcome that glass ceiling?
And that suggests these attacks were such that the victims were driven to overcome the usual reluctance to file a report.
Historical Examples of overcome He had fallen into a chair, faint and overcome , as tears came to his eyes.
This computation covers only the machine's power to overcome resistance.
What was the matter with her that she was less gay, and that she was so overcome by this delicious pang?
What had he said, what was the word he had just pronounced, that she should be so overcome by it?
She listened to him, silent, overcome with compassion, yet very happy withal.
British Dictionary definitions for overcome verb -comes , -coming , -came or -come (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 Show More
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for overcome v. Old English ofercuman "to reach, overtake," also "to conquer, prevail over," from ofer (see over ) + cuman "to come" (see come (v.)). A common Germanic compound (cf. Middle Dutch overkomen , Old High German ubarqueman , German überkommen ). In reference to mental or chemical force, "to overwhelm, render helpless," it is in late Old English. Meaning "to surmount" (a difficulty or obstacle) is from c.1200. The Civil Rights anthem "We Shall Overcome" was put together c.1950s from lyrics from Charles Tindley's spiritual "I'll Overcome Some Day" (1901), and melody from pre-Civil War spiritual "No More Auction Block for Me." Related: Overcame ; overcoming .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
