overcome

[ oh-ver-kuhm ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·came [oh-ver-, keym], o·ver·come, o·ver·com·ing.

1. to get the better of in a struggle or conflict; conquer; defeat:

   to overcome the enemy.

   Synonyms: vanquish

2. to prevail over (opposition, a debility, temptations, etc.); surmount:

   to overcome one's weaknesses.

3. to overpower or overwhelm in body or mind, as does liquor, a drug, exertion, or emotion:

   I was overcome with grief.

4. Archaic. to overspread or overrun.

verb (used without object)

, o·ver·came [oh-ver-, keym], o·ver·come, o·ver·com·ing.

1. to gain the victory; win; conquer:

   a plan to overcome by any means possible.

overcome

/ ˌəʊvəˈkʌm /

verb

1. tr 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. tr to surmount (obstacles, objections, etc)
4. intr to be victorious

Other Words From

• o·ver·com·er noun
• un·o·ver·come adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overcome¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English ofercuman; over-, come

Synonym Study

See defeat.

Example Sentences

Alisha Dingus, the development director at the DC Abortion Fund, told Salon the effects over the last two years will take decades to overcome.

From Salon

According to Florida’s law, it remains a felony to perform or actively participate in an abortion six weeks after gestation, with limited exceptions that are designed to be difficult to use and frequently act as another burden for patients to overcome.

From Salon

"My life will end after this tweet," he wrote at 19:20, adding: "I wish that one day Iranians will wake up and overcome slavery."

From BBC

Even with a healthy majority in the Senate this time around, Trump will not have the magic 60 seats that would allow him to overcome any opposition attempts to delay legislation.

From BBC

Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Janice Hahn deserve credit for co-authoring Measure G. They recognized that with a popular L.A. city governance reform package already on the November ballot, this year presented a rare opportunity to overcome voters’ historic skepticism about expanding county leadership.

From Los Angeles Times