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Definition of 'overcome'

Word Frequency

overcome

(oʊvəʳkʌm )
Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense overcomes , present participle overcoming , past tense overcame language note:   The form overcome is used in the present tense and is also the past participle.
1. verb
If you overcome a problem or a feeling, you successfully deal with it and control it.
Molly had fought and overcome her fear of flying. [VERB noun]
Find a way to overcome your difficulties. [VERB noun]
2. verb
If you are overcome by a feeling or event, it is so strong or has such a strong effect that you cannot think clearly.
The night before the test I was overcome by fear and despair. [be VERB-ed]
A dizziness overcame him, blurring his vision. [VERB noun]
3. verb [usually passive]
If you are overcome by smoke or a poisonous gas, you become very ill or die from breathing it in.
The residents were trying to escape from the fire but were overcome by smoke. [be VERB-ed]
More Synonyms of overcome
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of 'overcome'

Word Frequency

overcome in British

(ˌəʊvəˈkʌm )
verb -comes, -coming, -came or -come
1. (transitive)
to get the better of in a conflict
2. (tr; often passive)
to render incapable or powerless by laughter, sorrow, exhaustion, etc
he was overcome by fumes
3. (transitive)
to surmount (obstacles, objections, etc)
4. (intransitive)
to be victorious
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

overcome in American

(ˌoʊvərˈkʌm ; ōˌvərkumˈ)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˌoverˈcame, ˌoverˈcome, ˌoverˈcoming
1. 
to get the better of in competition, struggle, etc.; conquer
2. 
to master, prevail over, or surmount
to overcome obstacles
3. 
to make helpless; overpower or overwhelm
overcome by pity
verb intransitive
4. 
to be victorious; win
SIMILAR WORDS:  ˈconquer
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'overcome'
ME ouercomen < OE ofercuman

Example sentences containing 'overcome'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
I ought to be able to overcome these feelings but they still well up inside me. The Sun (2016)Two school friends have died after being overcome by leaking gas fumes in holiday accommodation. Times, Sunday Times (2010)She was overcome by smoke and battled back to life from a coma. The Sun (2012)They overcome fear and become strong and successful. Hopkins, Tom The Guide to Greatness in Sales (1994)Positive thinking is also essential when you want to overcome your fear. Vera Peiffer POSITIVELY FEARLESS: Breaking free of the fears that hold you back (2001)They need responsibility to overcome their feelings of inferiority. Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)He had clearly overcome any early lack of confidence. Times, Sunday Times (2015)She overcame this to become a teacher. Times, Sunday Times (2014)It has helped me overcome my fear of boring the board with repetition. Christianity Today (2000)The box below will give you tips on how to overcome these negative feelings. Times, Sunday Times (2008)Overcoming your feelings of guilt is quite another matter. Times, Sunday Times (2015)Will he overcome his fear and win over the other competitors with his big heart and his pluck? Times, Sunday Times (2013)Most of the inJured were overcome by gas. Times, Sunday Times (2013)The British double have become experts at overcoming tough situations. Times, Sunday Times (2012)These groups are often chaired by people who have overcome their particular fear problem and are in a position to give very sound advice. Vera Peiffer POSITIVELY FEARLESS: Breaking free of the fears that hold you back (2001)Both been overcome by smoke. The Sun (2013)But the burglar, who had been drinking heavily, was overcome by smoke and collapsed. The Sun (2007)It seemed as if the thought of him upset all her composure, destroyed the calm, overcame the exhaustion. Elizabeth Gaskell North and South (1855)A rescuer overcome by the gas is making repetitive arm movements as if he were having an epileptic fit, typical of nerve agent poisoning. Times, Sunday Times (2013)

Trends of 'overcome'

Very Common. overcome is one of the 4000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'overcome'

British English: overcome /ˌəʊvəˈkʌm/ VERB
If you overcome a problem or a feeling, you successfully deal with it and control it.
She had overcome her fear of flying.
  • American English: overcome
  • Arabic: يَتَغَلَّبُ عَلَى
  • Brazilian Portuguese: superar
  • Chinese: 战胜
  • Croatian: svladati
  • Czech: překonat problém
  • Danish: overvinde
  • Dutch: overwinnen
  • European Spanish: superar
  • Finnish: voittaa
  • French: surmonter
  • German: überwinden
  • Greek: υπερνικώ
  • Italian: superare
  • Japanese: 克服する
  • Korean: 극복하다
  • Norwegian: overvinne
  • Polish: pokonać przezwyciężyć
  • European Portuguese: superar
  • Romanian: a depăși
  • Russian: преодолевать
  • Spanish: superar
  • Swedish: besegra
  • Thai: เอาชนะ
  • Turkish: üstesinden gelmek
  • Ukrainian: долати
  • Vietnamese: đánh bại

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Nearby words of 'overcome'

  • overcolor
  • overcolour
  • overcoloured
  • overcome
  • overcomer
  • overcommit
  • overcommitment

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'O'

Source

Definition of overcome from the Collins English Dictionary

Can and could

Both these verbs indicate ability in some respect. The use of could is usual in clauses that contain a reference to past time. Morag can speak French quite well now. I couldn’t play chess two y...
Read more about 'Can and could'
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Scrabble score for 'overcome': 15
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