Overwhelm definition

ōvər-wĕlm, -hwĕlm
overwhelmed overwhelms
See word origin
Frequency:
To present with an excessive amount.

They overwhelmed us with expensive gifts.

verb
10
4
To pour down upon and cover over or bury beneath.
verb
5
2
Overwhelm is defined as to completely overcome or take over.

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

verb
2
0

In December 1939 the Soviet Union attacked Finland with overwhelming force.

verb
2
0
To surge over and submerge; engulf.

Waves overwhelming the rocky shoreline.

verb
4
3
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The dinghy was overwhelmed by the great wave.

verb
1
0
To overpower emotionally.

He was overwhelmed with guilt.

Joy overwhelmed her when she realized that she had won a million dollars.

verb
1
0
To cause to surround, to cover.

verb
1
0
To dominate, subdue, obliterate, etc. as because of superior or excessive strength; overpower.
verb
1
1
To overcome emotionally.

He was overwhelmed by their generosity.

verb
1
1
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(obs.) To overthrow or overturn.
verb
1
1
To turn over; upset.

The small craft was overwhelmed by the enormous waves.

verb
0
0
To defeat completely and decisively.

Our team overwhelmed the visitors by 40 points.

verb
0
0
To affect deeply in mind or emotion.

Despair overwhelmed me.

verb
0
1

Origin of overwhelm

  • From over- +"Ž whelm, or rather Middle English whelmen.

    From Wiktionary

Overwhelm Sentence Examples

  • Sadness threatened to overwhelm him.

  • All the forces against which he had been struggling united to overwhelm him.

  • You don't want to overwhelm young children with complicated puzzles.

  • Quantity is very important since you want to overwhelm your opponents.

  • The purpose of a text is not to overwhelm someone, or even to do more than bring a small smile to their face.

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Words near overwhelm in the Dictionary