ENGLISH
REFERENCE

overwhelmed

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌoʊvɝˈwɛɫmd// UK //ˌəʊvəwˈɛlmd// over·whelmed

adj. feeling like you have too much to deal with, such as too much work or too many strong emotions. It is the feeling of being defeated or buried by a situation.

adj. experiencing an excessive amount of something, typically work or emotion, that is difficult to manage or resist. Often used in the passive voice or as a participial adjective.


SIMPLE

I feel overwhelmed by all the homework I have to do.

CONTEXTUAL

The hospital staff was completely overwhelmed by the sudden influx of patients during the flu season.

COMPLEX

The young diplomat felt overwhelmed by the gravity of the negotiations, fearing that a single misstep could jeopardize the fragile peace treaty.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly followed by the preposition 'by' or 'with'.

Pitfall

The work is very overwhelmed.The work is very overwhelming.Learners often confuse the -ed ending (how a person feels) with the -ing ending (the thing causing the feeling).

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