overcome

verb over·come \ˌō-vər-ˈkəm\

: to defeat (someone or something)

: to successfully deal with or gain control of (something difficult)

: to affect (someone) very strongly or severely

over·came\-ˈkām\over·comeover·com·ing

Full Definition of OVERCOME

transitive verb

: to get the better of : surmount <overcome difficulties>

: overwhelm

intransitive verb

: to gain the superiority : win

— over·com·er noun

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Origin of OVERCOME

Middle English, from Old English ofercuman, from ofer over + cuman to come

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to OVERCOME

Synonyms: best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down [British], get, get around, lick, master, overbear, beat, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst

Antonyms: lose (to)

Synonym Discussion of OVERCOME

conquer, vanquish, defeat, subdue, reduce, overcome, overthrow mean to get the better of by force or strategy. conquer implies gaining mastery of <Caesar conquered Gaul>. vanquish implies a complete overpowering <vanquished the enemy and ended the war>. defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals <the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas>. subdue implies a defeating and suppression <subdued the native tribes after years of fighting>. reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender <the city was reduced after a month-long siege>. overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle <overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks>. overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power <violently overthrew the old regime>.