English Lexicon

Overcome

/ˌoʊ.vərˈkʌm/
verbCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #800 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To succeed in dealing with or controlling a problem or difficulty.

    "She managed to overcome her fears and speak in public."
  2. 2

    To defeat or conquer an opponent or obstacle.

    "The team overcame their rivals to win the championship."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'overcome' originates from the Old English 'ofercuman', which combines 'ofer' meaning 'over' and 'cuman' meaning 'to come'. It has evolved through Middle English as 'overcomen', reflecting a shift in usage from a physical sense of surpassing to a more abstract sense of defeating challenges or obstacles.

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