overcome
verb
over·come ˌō-vər-ˈkəm 
overcame ˌō-vər-ˈkām ; overcome; overcoming
; 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
Synonyms
- beat
- best
- conquer
- defeat
- dispatch
- do down [British]
- get
- get around
- lick
- master
- overbear
- overmatch
- prevail (over)
- skunk
- stop
- subdue
- surmount
- take
- trim
- triumph (over)
- upend
- win (against)
- worst
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Joseph Azeredo said, trailing off as he was overcome by emotion. 
Alexander Thompson, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2022 When Barton crumpled to the floor, overcome by emotion, her mother ran over, knelt, and hugged her. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2022 Pugh and Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams play best friends Abbie and Lydia, students at an English all-girls school that has been overcome by an epidemic of fainting spell episodes. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 11 Aug. 2022 For one, the genre’s relentless optimism and infectious rhythms are hard not to be overcome by, regardless of age. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 8 Aug. 2022 John said he was overcome with emotion during their chat, mostly out of happiness that TJ felt able to tell him. Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE.com, 14 July 2022 Peterson knows he's easily overcome by gratitude and emotion. Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 13 July 2022 All of the inmates complied but McBeth and a second inmate who fought with deputies until the prisoners were eventually overcome by officers by use of force and multiple bursts of pepper-spray, court filings show. John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 9 July 2022 The night was an emotional one for Adele, and Page Six reports that she she was overcome before even finishing her first song. Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 3 July 2022 See More
Alexander Thompson, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2022 When Barton crumpled to the floor, overcome by emotion, her mother ran over, knelt, and hugged her. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2022 Pugh and Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams play best friends Abbie and Lydia, students at an English all-girls school that has been overcome by an epidemic of fainting spell episodes. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 11 Aug. 2022 For one, the genre’s relentless optimism and infectious rhythms are hard not to be overcome by, regardless of age. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 8 Aug. 2022 John said he was overcome with emotion during their chat, mostly out of happiness that TJ felt able to tell him. Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE.com, 14 July 2022 Peterson knows he's easily overcome by gratitude and emotion. Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 13 July 2022 All of the inmates complied but McBeth and a second inmate who fought with deputies until the prisoners were eventually overcome by officers by use of force and multiple bursts of pepper-spray, court filings show. John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 9 July 2022 The night was an emotional one for Adele, and Page Six reports that she she was overcome before even finishing her first song. Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 3 July 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
overcome
verb
over·come ˌō-vər-ˈkəm
overcame
-ˈkām
; overcome; overcoming 1
: to win a victory over : conquer
Soldiers overcame the enemy.
2
: to gain control of through great effort
He overcame his fear of heights.
3
: to cause to lose physical ability or emotional control
Firefighters were overcome by smoke.
The family was overcome by grief.
overcoming
verb
1
as in defeating
to achieve a victory over the baseball team finally overcame their opponents in the 13th inning Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- defeating
- mastering
- conquering
- surmounting
- beating
- stopping
- getting
- taking
- subduing
- dispatching
- succeeding
- licking
- overmatching
- upending
- trimming
- besting
- finishing
- overwhelming
- overbearing
- surpassing
- burying
- crushing
- doing down
- getting around
- exceeding
- worsting
- triumphing (over)
- scoring
- sweeping
- vanquishing
- transcending
- getting the better of
- skunking
- slaughtering
- prevailing (over)
- annihilating
- excelling
- upsetting
- knocking for a loop
- breaking
- winning (against)
- capping
- flattening
- clobbering
- overthrowing
- subjugating
- excelling
- routing
- whipping
- topping
- flourishing
- overpowering
- blowing out
- bombing
- unseating
- thrashing
- trouncing
- blowing away
- eclipsing
- outdoing
- smoking
- outshining
- bettering
- creaming
- walloping
- pipping
- drubbing
- outdistancing
- skinning
- outstripping
- knocking over
- waxing
- shellacking
- nosing out
- knocking off
- overtopping
- edging (out)
- snowing under
- outfighting
- acing (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- falling
- losing (to)
- collapsing
- failing
- folding
- washing out
- flunking
- flopping
- going down
- going under
- giving up
2
as in overwhelming
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress already under stress, she was overcome by news of a death in the family Synonyms & Similar Words
- overwhelming
- devastating
- crushing
- oppressing
- overpowering
- swamping
- defeating
- overmastering
- whelming
- drowning
- rocking
- prostrating
- disturbing
- flooring
- shattering
- grinding (down)
- sinking
- snowing under
- refuting
- upsetting
- throwing
- distressing
- staggering
- deluging
- demoralizing
- unnerving
- breaking
- confuting
- unmanning