Reading Theme:

Language:

Font Size:

📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Overcome: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：defeat a problem (overcome)

overcome 🔊

/ˌoʊvərˈkʌm/

vt.

to succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty.

Overcome definition illustrated by a climber conquering a mountain peak.

defeat a problem 🔊

➕

/dɪˈfiːt ə ˈprɒbləm/

vt.

To successfully deal with and conquer a difficulty or obstacle.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'ofercuman', combining 'over' (above) and 'come' (to arrive), meaning to surpass or conquer.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'over' as above and 'come' as arrive; to overcome is to rise above obstacles and arrive at success.

📖 Example

With practice and encouragement, she was able to overcome her fear of public speaking. 🔊 Through practice and support, she conquered her fear of speaking in public.

🔗 Collocations

overcome obstacles – to successfully remove or deal with barriers

overcome challenges – to defeat difficulties and achieve goals

overcome adversity – to triumph over harsh circumstances

🔄 Synonyms

conquer (vt.) – to overcome and gain control over something

surmount (vt.) – to successfully deal with a difficulty or obstacle

defeat (vt.) – to win a victory over a problem or opponent

🚫 Antonyms

succumb (vi.) – to fail to resist a difficulty or temptation

yield (vi.) – to give way under pressure or to a superior force

🌱 Derivatives

overcoming (n.) – the act of overcoming difficulties

overcomer (n.) – a person who overcomes challenges

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Old English, originally meaning to physically cross over, now commonly used in motivational contexts to describe personal triumph over challenges, reflecting a shift from literal to metaphorical overcoming.

Meaning 2：be overpowered by emotion (overcome)

overcome 🔊

/ˌoʊvərˈkʌm/

vt.

when a feeling is so strong that you can't control it.

Overcome by emotion shown by a person overwhelmed with feelings.

be overpowered by emotion 🔊

➕

/bi ˌoʊvərˈpaʊərd baɪ ɪˈmoʊʃən/

vt.

When an emotion becomes so intense that it dominates one's control or consciousness.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

A wave of sadness overcame him when he heard the old song from his childhood. 🔊 He was overwhelmed by sadness upon hearing the nostalgic song from his youth.

🔗 Collocations

be overcome by grief – to be dominated by intense sorrow

overcome with joy – to be overwhelmed by happiness

overcome by emotion – to be strongly affected by feelings

🔄 Synonyms

overwhelm (vt.) – to affect someone very strongly, often with emotion

engulf (vt.) – to completely surround or cover, as with emotions

inundate (vt.) – to overwhelm with a flood of something, like feelings

🚫 Antonyms

control (vt.) – to manage or restrain emotions or actions

suppress (vt.) – to prevent feelings from being expressed