overwhelm
verb (used with object)
to overcome completely in mind or feeling.
was overwhelming
-
past progressiveof overwhelm.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
The response was overwhelming, but it didn’t work.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
Chief Constable Jason Hogg told the BBC he was in discussion with the Police Federation of England and Wales over the matter, adding public opinion on their potential release was "overwhelming".
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
"There were fire trucks everywhere, and the smell of smoke was overwhelming," she said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026
By early 2026, large majorities of Americans believed the government was withholding key information about Epstein and his alleged accomplices, and dissatisfaction with the pace and transparency of disclosures was overwhelming.
From Salon ● Apr. 13, 2026
If I thought the amount of publicity I’d gotten so far was overwhelming, it was nothing compared to after our first win.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
