overcome

verb

over·​come ˌō-vər-ˈkəm 
overcame ˌō-vər-ˈkām  ; overcome; overcoming
Synonyms of overcome

transitive verb

1
: to get the better of : surmount
overcome difficulties
They overcame the enemy.
2
: overwhelm
were overcome by the heat and smoke

intransitive verb

: to gain the superiority : win
strong in the faith that truth would overcome

Synonyms of overcome

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conquer, vanquish, defeat, subdue, reduce, overcome, overthrow mean to get the better of by force or strategy.

conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

Examples of overcome in a Sentence

After a tough battle, they overcame the enemy. a story about overcoming adversity She overcame a leg injury and is back running again.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Caleb Douglas dropped a slant from Malik Willis in a situational period that would have been difficult for the offense to overcome. — Omar Kelly august 26, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 Last season, one of the NFL’s best offenses couldn’t overcome one of the league’s worst defenses. — Nbc Sports, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026 There are matches to win, obstacles to overcome, and a new ally in the form of Zelda (assuming Rebecca’s wrong to be a little suspicious about her attention). — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 Angels lose to Guardians in extra innings José Ramírez drove in five runs with three doubles, Steven Kwan had five singles and the streaking Cleveland Guardians overcame an early five-run deficit to beat the Angels 8-6 in 10 innings Tuesday night. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overcome

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English ofercuman, from ofer over + cuman to come

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overcome was before the 12th century

Rhymes for overcome

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Browse Nearby Words

overcoiler
overcome
overcomer
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Cite this Entry

“Overcome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overcome. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

overcome

verb
over·​come ˌō-vər-ˈkəm 
overcame -ˈkām  ; overcome; overcoming
1
: to gain an advantage or victory over
overcome an enemy
2
: to make helpless or exhausted
was overcome by gas
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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