Dictionary

overcome en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌoʊ.vəɹˈkʌm/ (Canada, General-American)
• (US) audio
• /ˌoː.vəʳˈkəm/ (India)
• /ˌəʊ.vəˈkʌm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌɐʉ.vɐˈkɐm/ (New-Zealand)
• /ˌəʉ.vəˈkɐm/ (Australia)
• ō′vər-kŭm′
• /ˌo.vəɹˈkʌm/ (Scotland)

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.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) That has been overcome, prevailed over.

Forms

Synonyms

conquered · licked · wrecked · confounded · stonkered · routed · overpowered · recreant · overcome · vanquished · recreant · foiled · defeated · undone · subjugated · beaten · worsted · pwned · thwarted · broken · rekt · undone · beaten · bested

overcome en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌoʊ.vəɹˈkʌm/ (Canada, General-American)
• (US) audio
• /ˌoː.vəʳˈkəm/ (India)
• /ˌəʊ.vəˈkʌm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌɐʉ.vɐˈkɐm/ (New-Zealand)
• /ˌəʉ.vəˈkɐm/ (Australia)
• ō′vər-kŭm′
• /ˌo.vəɹˈkʌm/ (Scotland)

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.

Meanings

1. (Scotland) The burden or recurring theme in a song.
2. (Scotland) A surplus.

Forms

overcome en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˌoʊ.vəɹˈkʌm/ (Canada, General-American)
• (US) audio
• /ˌoː.vəʳˈkəm/ (India)
• /ˌəʊ.vəˈkʌm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌɐʉ.vɐˈkɐm/ (New-Zealand)
• /ˌəʉ.vəˈkɐm/ (Australia)
• ō′vər-kŭm′
• /ˌo.vəɹˈkʌm/ (Scotland)

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.

Meanings

1. (transitive) 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. [1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC:
   • But sith this wretched woman ouercome / Of anguish, rather then of crime hath beene, 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 58:
   • In the early days troubles were experienced with oscillation from the rod drive and with the transformers, but were overcome later, and these machines performed useful service until superseded by more modern locomotives less costly in maintenance. 1960 December, Cecil J. Allen, “Operating a mountain main line: the Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon: Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 743:
2. (intransitive) To prevail.
   • 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. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Revelation 3:5:
   • We shall overcome because Carlyle is right; "no lie can live forever". 1968, Martin Luther King Jr., (Please provide the book title or journal name):
   • Preacher: Maintain, my brothers and sisters--we have faced adversity, and overcome. This is but a test! Preacher: Remember the pillars of strength that hold our people high. Show the galaxy our resolve! 2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Citadel, Docking Bay E24 (Kite's Nest: Pillars of Strength):
3. (transitive) To recover from (a difficulty), to get over.
4. (transitive) To win against or prevail over in some sort of battle, contest, etc.
   • Ther with all cam kyng Arthur but with a fewe peple and slewe on the lyfte hand and on the ryght hand that wel nyhe ther escaped no man / but alle were slayne to the nombre of xxx M / And whan the bataille was all ended the kynge kneled doune and thanked god mekely / and thenne he sente for the quene and soone she was come / and she maade grete Ioye of the ouercomynge of that bataille 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “iij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book IV:
   • to overcome enemies in battle
   • That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired. And if the arts of humbleness failed him, he overcame you by sheer impudence. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter II, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
   • They were faire Ladies, till they fondly ſtriu’d / With th’Heliconian maides for mayſtery; / Of whom they ouer-comen, were depriu’d / Of their proud beautie, and th’one moyity / Transform’d to fiſh, for their bold ſurquedry, / But th’vpper halfe their hew retayned ſtill, / And their ſweet skill in wonted melody; / Which euer after they abuſd to ill, / T’allure weake traueillers, whom gotten they did kill. 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 31, pages 370–371:
5. To come or pass over; to spread over.
   • And overcome us like a summer's cloud. c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
   • The firefighters put on breathing apparatus and managed to find the injured. In one case, they were almost too late - one of the bystanders who had helped with the initial rescue attempts had been reported missing. They were later found unconscious, having been overcome by the fumes. 2026 March 18, Greg Morse, “1996 crash driving freight reforms”, in RAIL, number 1057, page 51:
   • I was overcome with anger.
6. (obsolete) To overflow; to surcharge.
   • Th' unfallow'd Glebe Yearly o'ercomes the Granaries with Store Of Golden Wheat. 1708, [John Philips], “(please specify the page)”, in Cyder. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], →OCLC:
   • A Crop so plenteous, as the Land to load, O'ercome the crowded Barns 1697, Virgil, “The Second Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

overcomingly · overcomeable · overcomable · overcomer · unovercome

Synonyms

hurdle · overtake · vanquish

Translations (99)

cs zvládat (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · az dəf etmək (to surmount, get the better of) · uk подола́ти (to surmount, get the better of) · ja 克服する (to surmount, get the better of) · mi where (to surmount, get the better of) · fi peittää (to surmount, get the better of) · mi kake (to surmount, get the better of) · cs přemoci (to surmount, get the better of) · sk zdolať (to surmount, get the better of) · sh savladati (to surmount, get the better of) · grc καίνυμαι (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · mi tārū (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · fi pitää jotakin vallassaan (to surmount, get the better of) · tr atlatmak (to surmount, get the better of) · mnc ᡝᡨᡝᠮᠪᡳ (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · ja 征服する (to surmount, get the better of) · mi whakatungou (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · mhr авалташ (to come or pass over; to spread over) · mk надминува (to surmount, get the better of) · ko 이겨내다 (to surmount, get the better of) · ar هَزَمَ (to surmount, get the better of) · yi אַוועקלייגן (to surmount, get the better of) · ja 乗り越える (to surmount, get the better of) · fr vaincre (to surmount, get the better of) · sa सहते (to surmount, get the better of) · es sobreponerse a (to surmount, get the better of) · ba еңеү (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · de bewältigen (to surmount, get the better of) · cmn 征服 (to surmount, get the better of) · pt vencer (to surmount, get the better of) · cs překonat (to surmount, get the better of) · got 𐌳𐌹𐍃𐌷𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌽 (to surmount, get the better of) · th เอาชนะ (to surmount, get the better of) · qu yalliy (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · hu felülkerekedik (to surmount, get the better of) · mk надмине (to surmount, get the better of) · ru преодолева́ть (to surmount, get the better of) · sv övervinna (to surmount, get the better of) · be пераадо́льваць (to surmount, get the better of) · pl przemóc (to surmount, get the better of) · de überwinden (to surmount, get the better of) · arz غلب (to surmount, get the better of) · mi eke panuku (to surmount, get the better of) · la superō (to surmount, get the better of) · sh savladavati (to surmount, get the better of) · mi whakatina (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · mi whakatungou (to surmount, get the better of) · bg побеждавам (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · ro birui (to surmount, get the better of) · ko 극복하다 (to surmount, get the better of) · fi voittaa (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · ar قَهَر (to surmount, get the better of) · bg преодолявам (to surmount, get the better of) · sv överkomma (to surmount, get the better of) · fi valua yli (to overflow; to surcharge) · kk бағындыру (to surmount, get the better of) · fi peitota (to surmount, get the better of) · mi poke (to surmount, get the better of) · cmn 克服 (to surmount, get the better of) · fi voittaa (to surmount, get the better of) · fa چیرادن (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · ru преодоле́ть (to surmount, get the better of) · la vincō (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · mi tārū (to surmount, get the better of) · it sconfiggere (to surmount, get the better of) · tr üstesinden gelmek (to surmount, get the better of) · it superare (to surmount, get the better of) · pl przezwyciężać (to surmount, get the better of) · vi vượt qua (to surmount, get the better of) · ro învinge (to surmount, get the better of) · be пераадо́лець (to surmount, get the better of) · arz هزم (to surmount, get the better of) · hu erőt vesz (to surmount, get the better of) · nl overwinnen (to surmount, get the better of) · sa सहते (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · pl przezwyciężyć (to surmount, get the better of) · gd ceannsaich (to surmount, get the better of) · uk дола́ти (to surmount, get the better of) · yi בײַקומען (to surmount, get the better of) · cs zvládnout (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · mi whara (to surmount, get the better of) · hu úrrá lesz (to surmount, get the better of) · bg превъзмогвам (to surmount, get the better of) · th ครอบงำ (to come or pass over; to spread over) · la superō (to come or pass over; to spread over) · pt superar (to surmount, get the better of) · tr yenmek (to surmount, get the better of) · id mengatasi (to surmount, get the better of) · ar غَلَبَ (to surmount, get the better of) · mi wikitōria (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · fr surmonter (to surmount, get the better of) · sq ngadhënjej (to surmount, get the better of) · pl przemagać (to surmount, get the better of) · mi whakatina (to surmount, get the better of) · pt ultrapassar (to surmount, get the better of) · cmn 征服 (to win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.) · eo venki (to surmount, get the better of) · sk prekonať (to surmount, get the better of) · eo superforti (to surmount, get the better of)