ENGLISH
REFERENCE

overcoming

n. · v.
US //ˈoʊvɝˌkəmɪŋ// UK //ˌəʊvəkˈʌmɪŋ// over·com·ing
  1. 1 the act of surmounting (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of successfully dealing with a problem or a difficult situation.

    the act or process of surmounting an obstacle, difficulty, or personal challenge.

    Example

    The overcoming of her fear of heights took many years of practice.

    Example

    The overcoming of systemic barriers requires more than individual effort; it demands a fundamental shift in institutional policy.
  2. 2 successfully dealing with (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the -ing form of 'overcome', used to describe the action of winning against a problem.

    the present participle or gerund of 'overcome', used in continuous tenses or as a noun-like action.

    Example

    She is slowly overcoming her shyness by joining a local drama club.

    Example

    By overcoming these initial technical hurdles, the research team paved the way for a more robust implementation of the software.

Last updated June 20, 2026