overcome
//ˌəʊ.vəˈkʌm//
Forms
- present (v1)
- overcome
- past (v2)
- overcame
- past participle (v3)
- overcome
- present participle
- overcoming
- 3rd person singular
- overcomes
- Plural
- overcomes
Definitions
1.To surmount (a physical or abstract obstacle); to prevail over, to get the better of.
- By and by fumes of brandy began to fill the air, and climb to where I lay, overcoming the mouldy smell of decayed wood and the dampness of the green walls.
2.To prevail.
- We shall overcome because Carlyle is right; "no lie can live forever".
- Hee that ouercommeth, the same shalbe clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the booke of life, but I will confesse his name before my Father, and before his Angels.
3.To recover from (a difficulty), to get over.
4.To win against or prevail over in some sort of battle, contest, etc.
1.The burden or recurring theme in a song.
2.A surplus.
1.That has been overcome, prevailed over.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #2954
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English overcomen, inherited from Old English ofercuman (“to overcome, subdue, compel, conquer, obtain, attain, reach, overtake”).
By surface analysis, over- + come.
Cognate with Dutch overkomen, German überkommen, Danish overkomme, Swedish överkomma.