overpower
Americanverb (used with object)
-
overpowers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
overpowered,
past participle, past
-
overpowering
present participle
-
to overcome, master, or subdue by superior force.
to overpower a maniac.
-
to overcome or overwhelm in feeling; affect or impress excessively.
overpowered with confusion and desire.
-
to gain mastery over the bodily powers or mental faculties of.
a strong drink that quickly overpowered him.
-
to furnish or equip with excessive power.
a giant motor that overpowered the pump.
verb
-
to conquer or subdue by superior force
-
to have such a strong effect on as to make helpless or ineffective
-
to supply with more power than necessary
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
overpowersimple
-
overpowerssimple
-
have overpoweredperfect
-
has overpoweredperfect
-
am overpoweringprogressive
-
are overpoweringprogressive
-
is overpoweringprogressive
-
have been overpoweringperfect progressive
-
has been overpoweringperfect progressive
Past
-
overpoweredsimple
-
had overpoweredperfect
-
was overpoweringprogressive
-
were overpoweringprogressive
-
had been overpoweringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of overpower
Explanation
To overpower is to overcome with greater strength. In order to win an arm-wrestling match, you must overpower your opponent. The word overpower is often used in situations where great force is used or required against some person or thing. One army might overpower another, or a mugger might overpower his victim. But delicate things, like the scent of a perfume, can also overpower you, especially if they're too strong. Our emotions can also overpower us: we cheer after a home run and swoon when it's love at first sight.
Vocabulary lists containing overpower
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 20–25
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Words for Cheese Writers
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Rachel the Clever"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Andreeva did not let that overwhelm her, eventually finding her rhythm and range from the baseline to overpower her increasingly frustrated opponent.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026
The team believes giant prey animals may have triggered an "evolutionary arms race" in which predators evolved stronger jaws and skulls to overpower increasingly massive herbivores.
From Science Daily ● May 20, 2026
One of President Donald Trump's favorite metaphors is that he's got the cards -- that through the might of the United States and his own acumen he can overpower any adversary.
From Barron's ● May 11, 2026
Caine said the Iranian military is adapting to the U.S. strategy, but remains confident in Washington’s ability to overpower Tehran.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2026
"Strep" bacteria live on nearly everything people touch but are only dangerous if they can penetrate the body's defenses and overpower the immune system.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
It has spread extensively across the north-west Highlands where it often overpowers native species.
From BBC ● May 21, 2026
“I still think about everything that could happen. I just love the game so much that it overpowers it.”
From Seattle Times ● May 14, 2024
His brother overpowers him at the business they co-own.
From Salon ● Apr. 12, 2024
The fresh, buttery flavor of the coconut milk enhances rather than overpowers the other flavors for a dish with a luscious texture and floral fragrance.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 26, 2023
“The company of officers absolutely overpowers us, you see: we find a little of it goes an awfully long way.”
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
There have been “years where I feel completely overpowered to the point where I’m not motivated to take part,” said Murillo, who didn’t vote in 2024 but plans to do so in November.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
But market jitters over sky-high AI spending without a path to good returns overpowered the company’s better-than-forecast financial performance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Having found his level, the 6ft 6in German remained on top, and the gulf became clear as he overpowered Fery to win five games on the bounce before wrapping up the second set.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
Were those chuckles overpowered by groans and eye rolls?
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
I struggled valiantly, but together the two ogres overpowered me.
From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth
It’s both salty and sweet, without feeling overpowering on either end of the flavor scale.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
If it doesn’t quite know what to do with the overpowering, Zurg-like menace of technology taking over life on this planet, nobody else does either.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
No pitcher has been as overpowering as Garcia was under the lights.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2026
At points during the third and fourth sets, he was hitting the ball 40mph faster than Djokovic on his groundstrokes, with his brutal striking overpowering the Serb at the back of court.
From BBC ● May 29, 2026
He slumped back, and because no one was there to see, he opened his mouth to give oudet to his overpowering grief.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
