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Added 9 October 2026

overcome

/ˌəʊ.vəˈkʌm/ verb

Categories: SocietyFeelingsEveryday Words

In Latin: superō Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about overcome at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. To surmount (a physical or abstract obstacle); to prevail over, to get the better of.
  2. To prevail.
  3. To recover from (a difficulty), to get over.

noun

  1. The burden or recurring theme in a song.
  2. A surplus.

adjective

  1. That has been overcome, prevailed over.

Origin

Inherited from Middle English overcomen, inherited from Old English ofercuman (“to overcome, subdue, compel, conquer, obtain, attain, reach, overtake”). By surface analysis, over- + come. Cognate with Dutch overkomen, German überkommen, Danish overkomme, Swedish överkomma.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: surmountoverpowerswampedoverwhelmdefeatsubdueoverpoweredvanquisheddefeatedbeatenwhelm

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