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

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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