overcome
verb
over·come
ˌō-vər-ˈkəm 
overcame
ˌō-vər-ˈkām
; overcome; overcoming
; overcome; overcoming
1
: to get the better of : surmount
overcome difficulties
They overcame the enemy.
2
: overwhelm
were overcome by the heat and smoke
: to gain the superiority : win
strong in the faith that truth would overcome
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
But your brain might still seek patterns to overcome.
—
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Yet soon one is overcome by Charles Laughton’s creepy, convincing portrayal of Captain Bligh’s sadomasochism: most of the first fifteen minutes is taken up with floggings and other shipboard disciplining of half-naked men, shown in detail while Laughton looks on with long-lipped lasciviousness.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2025
The prospect of overcoming judicial deference to an arbitration award is an important and often overlooked factor.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overcome
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Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Yet soon one is overcome by Charles Laughton’s creepy, convincing portrayal of Captain Bligh’s sadomasochism: most of the first fifteen minutes is taken up with floggings and other shipboard disciplining of half-naked men, shown in detail while Laughton looks on with long-lipped lasciviousness.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2025
The prospect of overcoming judicial deference to an arbitration award is an important and often overlooked factor.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overcome
Cite this Entry
“Overcome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overcome. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
overcome
verb
over·come
ˌō-vər-ˈkəm
overcame
-ˈkām
; overcome; overcoming
; overcome; overcoming
1
: to gain an advantage or victory over
overcome an enemy
2
: to make helpless or exhausted
was overcome by gas
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