overwhelm

o·ver·whelm

Use overwhelm in a sentence

verb

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.

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"overwhelm." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/OVERWHELM>.

APA Style

overwhelm. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/OVERWHELM

overwhelm

to pour down upon and cover over or bury beneath
to dominate, subdue, obliterate, etc. as because of superior or excessive strength; overpower
to overcome emotionally: he was overwhelmed by their generosity
Obs. to overthrow or overturn

Origin of overwhelm

Middle English oferwhelmen: see over- and whelm

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MLA Style

"overwhelm." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/OVERWHELM>.

APA Style

overwhelm. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/OVERWHELM

overwhelm

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.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"overwhelm." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/OVERWHELM>.

APA Style

overwhelm. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/OVERWHELM

Verb

(third-person singular simple present overwhelms, present participle overwhelming, simple past and past participle overwhelmed)

To engulf, surge over and submerge.
The dinghy was overwhelmed by the great wave.
To overpower, crush.
In December 1939 the Soviet Union attacked Finland with overwhelming force.
To overpower emotionally.
He was overwhelmed with guilt.
Joy overwhelmed her when she realized that she had won a million dollars.
To cause to surround, to cover.