overwhelm

Word parts

over- + whelm

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˌəʊvəˈʍɛlm/ or /ˌəʊvəˈwɛlm/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˌoʊvɚˈʍɛlm/ or /ˌoʊvɚˈwɛlm/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form overwhelm

Third-person singular overwhelms

Past tense overwhelmed

Past participle overwhelmed

Present participle overwhelming

1. If you are overwhelmed by a feeling, you feel it very strongly, and you cannot deal with it.
2. If a problem overwhelms you, it's too difficult for you to solve or deal with.
3. If one army overwhelms another, they completely defeat them.

   The team was able to overwhelm their opponents and win first place