overcome

over·come

verb \ˌō-vər-ˈkəm\

over·came\-ˈkām\over·comeover·com·ing

Definition of OVERCOME

transitive verb

1

: to get the better of : surmount <overcome difficulties>

2

: overwhelm

intransitive verb

: to gain the superiority : win

— over·com·er noun

Examples of OVERCOME

1. After a tough battle, they overcame the enemy.
2. a story about overcoming adversity
3. She overcame a leg injury and is back running again.

Origin of OVERCOME

Middle English, from Old English ofercuman, from ofer over + cuman to come

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to OVERCOME

Synonyms

best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down [British], get, get around, lick, master, overbear, beat, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst

Antonyms

lose (to)

Related Words

sweep; edge (out), nose out, pip [British]; annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke [slang], snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax [slang], whip; cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed; knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish; ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, excel, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend

Near Antonyms

fall, give up, go down, go under; collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

See Synonym Discussion at conquer

Rhymes with OVERCOME

apart from, aside from, beat the drum, bubblegum, chewing gum, kettledrum, kingdom come, on the bum, out of plumb, sugarplum, zero-sum