overcome

/ˈoʊvərˌkʌm/

/əʊvəˈkʌm/

Other forms: overcame; overcoming; overcomes

Use the verb overcome when you talk about someone who has triumphed over adversity. It's great to see a friend who's always struggled in school overcome his learning disabilities and make the honor roll.

You can also be overcome with emotions, or overwhelmed by your feelings. Many people feel so overcome with sadness at a movie — or happiness at a wedding — that they regret not bringing a pile of tissues with them. The verb overcome also means to win or surpass. If you are going to win the marathon, you are going to have to overcome having five runners ahead of you.

Definitions of overcome

1. verb

   win a victory over
   “You must overcome all difficulties”

   “He overcame his shyness”

   “He overcame his infirmity”

   synonyms: defeat, get the better of

   types:

   demolish, destroy

   defeat soundly

   beat, beat out, crush, shell, trounce, vanquish

   come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

   wallop

   defeat soundly and utterly

   down, topple

   bring down or defeat (an opponent)

   overrun

   seize the position of and defeat

   lurch, skunk

   defeat by a lurch

   expel, rout, rout out

   cause to flee

   upset

   defeat suddenly and unexpectedly

   nose

   defeat by a narrow margin

   conquer

   overcome by conquest

   come through, make it, pull round, pull through, survive

   continue in existence after (an adversity, etc.)

   smash

   overthrow or destroy (something considered evil or harmful)

   swallow

   engulf and destroy

   cut to ribbons

   defeat totally

   outpoint, outscore

   score more points than one's opponents

   walk over

   beat easily

   eliminate

   remove from a contest or race

   mop up, pip, rack up, whip, worst

   defeat thoroughly

   whomp

   beat overwhelmingly

   get the best, have the best

   overcome, usually through no fault or weakness of the person that is overcome

   rout, spread-eagle, spreadeagle

   defeat disastrously

   get the jump

   be there first

   cheat, chicane, chouse, jockey, screw, shaft

   defeat someone through trickery or deceit

   exceed, outdo, outgo, outmatch, outperform, outstrip, surmount, surpass

   be or do something to a greater degree

   conquer, get over, master, subdue, surmount

   get on top of; deal with successfully

   best, outdo, outflank, scoop, trump

   get the better of

   outfight

   to fight better than; get the better of

   overmaster, overpower, overwhelm

   overcome by superior force

   checkmate, mate

   place an opponent's king under an attack from which it cannot escape and thus ending the game

   immobilise, immobilize

   make defenseless

   outplay

   excel or defeat in a game

   annihilate, bat, clobber, cream, drub, lick, thrash

   beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight
2. verb

   get on top of; deal with successfully
   “He overcame his shyness”

   synonyms: conquer, get over, master, subdue, surmount

   types:

   bulldog

   throw a steer by seizing the horns and twisting the neck, as in a rodeo

   type of:

   beat, beat out, crush, shell, trounce, vanquish

   come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
3. verb

   overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
   synonyms: overpower, overtake, overwhelm, sweep over, whelm

   types:

   devastate

   overwhelm or overpower

   clutch, get hold of, seize

   affect

   kill

   overwhelm with hilarity, pleasure, or admiration

   benight

   overtake with darkness or night

   knock out

   overwhelm with admiration

   stagger

   astound or overwhelm, as with shock

   lock

   hold fast (in a certain state)

   type of:

   arouse, elicit, enkindle, evoke, fire, kindle, pique, provoke, raise

   call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
4. verb

   overcome, usually through no fault or weakness of the person that is overcome
   synonyms: get the best, have the best

   type of:

   beat, beat out, crush, shell, trounce, vanquish

   come out better in a competition, race, or conflict