# overpower

/ˌoʊvɝˈpaʊɝ/ (US) · /ˌəʊvəpˈaʊɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overpower
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to defeat by force

verb · CEFR B2

to defeat or control someone because you are much stronger than they are.

For teachers: to defeat or subdue an opponent by employing superior physical strength or force.

- The police managed to overpower the thief before he could run away.
- Security personnel were forced to intervene and eventually overpower the intruder, who had attempted to breach the perimeter during the gala.

### 2. to overwhelm the senses

verb · CEFR B2

to be so strong that you cannot smell, taste, or see anything else.

For teachers: to render a sensation or quality imperceptible by means of greater intensity or strength.

- The smell of the strong perfume started to overpower the scent of the flowers.
- The pungent aroma of garlic threatened to overpower the delicate flavours of the white wine sauce if the chef was not careful.

### 3. to affect emotionally

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to affect someone so strongly that they cannot think clearly or act normally.

For teachers: to affect a person's emotions or mental state so intensely that they are unable to maintain composure.

- A sudden feeling of sadness began to overpower her as she looked at the old photos.
- A profound sense of grief seemed to overpower the speaker, forcing him to pause his eulogy and regain his breath.

## Examples

- The strong smell of the perfume will overpower you.
- The small team managed to overpower the much larger group during the final minutes of the match.
- The scent of the pine forest was so overpowering that it seemed to fill every corner of the cabin, masking any other aroma present.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.