overcome
v.v. to successfully deal with a problem or a difficult feeling. You use this when you win a struggle against something that was stopping you.
v. to succeed in dealing with or controlling a problem, obstacle, or emotion. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the challenge being addressed.
She worked hard to overcome her fear of public speaking.
The small startup had to overcome significant financial hurdles before it finally became profitable last year.
To achieve lasting peace, both nations must overcome decades of mutual distrust and historical grievances that continue to stall diplomatic progress.
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.
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. In the passive voice, it often describes being overwhelmed by emotion ('overcome with grief').
He overcome the problem yesterdayHe overcame the problem yesterdayThe past tense is 'overcame' and the past participle is 'overcome' — learners often confuse these irregular forms.