overcome

verb

over·​come ˌō-vər-ˈkəm How to pronounce overcome (audio)
overcame ˌō-vər-ˈkām How to pronounce overcome (audio) ; overcome; overcoming

transitive verb

1
: to get the better of : surmount
overcome difficulties
They overcame the enemy.
2
: overwhelm
were overcome by the heat and smoke

intransitive verb

: to gain the superiority : win
strong in the faith that truth would overcome
Choose the Right Synonym for overcome

conquer, vanquish, defeat, subdue, reduce, overcome, overthrow mean to get the better of by force or strategy.

conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

Examples of overcome in a Sentence

After a tough battle, they overcame the enemy. a story about overcoming adversity She overcame a leg injury and is back running again.
Recent Examples on the Web But even possessing all these attributes—a tall order in itself—is not enough; acting as a successful steward of the land and producing healthy food for others is too great a challenge for any single person to overcome. Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024 In contrast, the nine relievers the Dodgers have used to overcome this starting pitching shortage and helped finish four shutouts in five games during one stretch of the playoffs are earning a total of $13.9 million. Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 20 Oct. 2024 Advertisement Dodgers Dodgers can’t overcome Jack Flaherty’s struggles in NLCS Game 5 loss to Mets Oct. 18, 2024 Roberts didn’t lack urgency. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024 As Juan bonds with the Roses and overcomes his writer’s block, Settie learns that embracing her imperfect family is what truly makes her story special. EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for overcome 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overcome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overcome was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near overcome

Cite this Entry

“Overcome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overcome. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

overcome

verb
over·​come ˌō-vər-ˈkəm How to pronounce overcome (audio)
overcame -ˈkām How to pronounce overcome (audio) ; overcome; overcoming
1
: to gain an advantage or victory over
overcome an enemy
2
: to make helpless or exhausted
was overcome by gas

More from Merriam-Webster on overcome

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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