overwhelm

Overwhelm is defined as to completely overcome or take over.

(verb)

An example of overwhelm is for a teacher to assign students five lengthy papers due on the same day.

See overwhelm in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to pour down upon and cover over or bury beneath
to make helpless, as with greater force or deep emotion; overcome; crush; overpower
Obsolete to overthrow or overturn

Origin: ME oferwhelmen: see over- & whelm

Related Forms:

See overwhelm in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb o·ver·whelmed, o·ver·whelm·ing, o·ver·whelms

To surge over and submerge; engulf: waves overwhelming the rocky shoreline.
a. To defeat completely and decisively: Our team overwhelmed the visitors by 40 points.
b. To affect deeply in mind or emotion: Despair overwhelmed me.
To present with an excessive amount: They overwhelmed us with expensive gifts.
To turn over; upset: The small craft was overwhelmed by the enormous waves.