verb

overcome

oh-vuh-KUHM

verb

To successfully deal with or defeat a difficulty or obstacle.

"She overcame her fear of flying after years of therapy."

"The team overcame a ten-point deficit to win the game."

adj

Emotionally overwhelmed, especially by strong feeling.

"He was overcome with joy when he saw his daughter graduate."

How to Use Overcome

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo beat a problem, or to be overwhelmed by a strong emotion.

Common mistake

As an adjective ("overcome with grief"), it describes being emotionally flooded, not defeated.

Common pairings

overcome an obstacle overcome with emotion overcome adversity

overcame past tense, overcome past tense, overcomes plural, overcomes singular

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Can you complete this real example?

He was _____ with joy when he saw his daughter graduate.

From Old English ofercuman, "to overcome, conquer," from over- + come.

ome some come home Rome nome tome dome gnome genome become income