# overwhelmed

/ˌoʊvɝˈwɛɫmd/ (US) · /ˌəʊvəwˈɛlmd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overwhelmed
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. too much work or stress

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling like you have too many things to do and not enough time or energy to finish them.

For teachers: burdened by an excessive amount of work, responsibility, or sensory input that exceeds one's coping capacity.

- I felt completely overwhelmed by all the emails I had to answer after my holiday.
- The social worker felt increasingly overwhelmed as her caseload doubled without any additional administrative support from the department.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'by' or 'with'.

### 2. strong emotion

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling a very strong emotion, like being so happy or sad that you cannot speak.

For teachers: experiencing an intense emotional reaction that temporarily incapacitates one's usual composure.

- She was overwhelmed with joy when she saw her family at the airport.
- The young author appeared visibly overwhelmed by the standing ovation, struggling to find the right words for her acceptance speech.

## Examples

- I feel overwhelmed by all the homework I have to do.
- The hospital staff was completely overwhelmed by the sudden influx of patients during the flu season.
- The young diplomat felt overwhelmed by the gravity of the negotiations, fearing that a single misstep could jeopardize the fragile peace treaty.

---

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.