overcome verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of overcome verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

overcome

verb
 
/ˌəʊvəˈkʌm/
 
/ˌəʊvərˈkʌm/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they overcome
 
/ˌəʊvəˈkʌm/
 
/ˌəʊvərˈkʌm/
he / she / it overcomes
 
/ˌəʊvəˈkʌmz/
 
/ˌəʊvərˈkʌmz/
past simple overcame
 
/ˌəʊvəˈkeɪm/
 
/ˌəʊvərˈkeɪm/
past participle overcome
 
/ˌəʊvəˈkʌm/
 
/ˌəʊvərˈkʌm/
-ing form overcoming
 
/ˌəʊvəˈkʌmɪŋ/
 
/ˌəʊvərˈkʌmɪŋ/
jump to other results
  1. overcome something to succeed in dealing with or controlling a problem that has been preventing you from achieving something
    • She overcame injury to win the Olympic gold medal.
    • The two parties managed to overcome their differences on the issue.
    • He finally managed to overcome his fear of flying
    • He overcame a strong temptation to run away.
    Extra Examples
    • Therapy helped her overcome her fear.
    • These problems were never entirely overcome.
    • There are at least two major obstacles that must be overcome.
    • This problem is largely overcome by printing out a new set of data.
    Topics Difficulty and failureb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • completely
    • successfully
    • not entirely
    verb + overcome
    • be able to
    • help (to)
    • help somebody (to)
    phrases
    • an attempt to overcome something
    See full entry
  2. overcome somebody/something to defeat somebody
    • In the final game Sweden easily overcame France.
    Extra Examples
    • She overcame strong opposition to take the title.
    • This could be the year that he finally overcomes his great rival and clinches the championship.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • completely
    • successfully
    • not entirely
    verb + overcome
    • be able to
    • help (to)
    • help somebody (to)
    phrases
    • an attempt to overcome something
    See full entry
  3. [usually passive] overcome somebody to affect somebody very strongly synonym overwhelm
    • Her parents were overcome with grief at the funeral.
    • Overcome by curiosity, the boy looked through the window.
    • The dead woman had been overcome by smoke.
    Extra Examples
    • He was suddenly overcome with remorse for the harm he had done.
    • She felt almost overcome by a tide of relief.
    • She felt quite overcome by their kindness.
    • The officers on duty were visibly overcome, many of them in tears.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • completely
    • quite
    • almost
    preposition
    • by
    • with
    See full entry
  4. Word OriginOld English ofercuman (see over-, come).
See overcome in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee overcome in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

Other results

All matches
pity
noun
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 5000
B2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day