Definition of 'overcome'
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
2. verb
3. verb [usually passive]
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of 'overcome'
verb -comes, -coming, -came or -come
2. (tr; often passive)
he was overcome by fumes
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
verb transitiveWord forms: ˌoverˈcame, ˌoverˈcome, ˌoverˈcoming
1.
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'
Example sentences containing 'overcome'
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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. The Guide to Greatness in Sales (1994)Positive thinking is also essential when you want to overcome your fear. POSITIVELY FEARLESS: Breaking free of the fears that hold you back (2001)They need responsibility to overcome their feelings of inferiority. 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. 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. 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
Nearby words of 'overcome'
Source
Definition of overcome from the
Collins English Dictionary
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