Word
overcome
Phoneticsover·come
US/ˈoʊvɝˌkəm/
UK/ˌəʊvəkˈʌm/
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
overcome
Past
overcame
Past participle
overcome
Definitions
01to solve a problem
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to successfully deal with a difficult situation or problem.
v. to surmount or prevail over a physical or abstract obstacle. Transitive — requires a direct object.
“She had to overcome many challenges to finish her university degree while working.”
“The startup eventually managed to overcome its initial funding shortfall by securing a series of private investments from local angel groups.”
02to defeat an opponent
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to defeat someone in a competition, fight, or war.
v. to prevail over an adversary in a contest, battle, or struggle.
“The team worked together to overcome their rivals in the final minutes of the game.”
“Historical accounts suggest the smaller army was able to overcome the invaders through superior knowledge of the mountainous terrain.”
03overwhelmed by emotion
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. to be so affected by a strong emotion that you cannot act or speak normally.
adj. to be overwhelmed or incapacitated by a powerful emotional state or physical condition. Often used in the passive voice with 'by' or 'with'.
“He was overcome with grief when he heard the sad news.”
“The witness was so overcome by emotion that the judge had to call for a brief recess to allow her to recover her composure.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “overcome” in context.
Verb
01. overcome difficulty
“She had to overcome many financial difficulties to finish her university degree.”
verb + noun
02. overcome obstacle
“The team worked together to overcome every obstacle they faced during the project.”
verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“The 23-year‑old has already overcome plenty of barriers.” “When I was younger, female biology was seen as something to be overcome.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/overcome