| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | ofercuman |
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o‧ver‧come S3 W3
past tense overcame
past participle overcome [transitive]
past tense overcame
past participle overcome [transitive]1 to successfully control a feeling or problem that prevents you from achieving something :
He struggled to overcome his shyness.
Her financial problems could no longer be overcome.
He struggled to overcome his shyness.
Her financial problems could no longer be overcome.2 [usually passive] if smoke or gas overcomes someone, they become extremely sick or unconscious because they breathe it :
The engineer was working on the freezer when he was overcome by gas.
The engineer was working on the freezer when he was overcome by gas.3 if an emotion overcomes someone, they cannot behave normally because they feel the emotion so strongly
4 to fight and win against someone or something :
Australia overcame the Netherlands 2-1.
Australia overcame the Netherlands 2-1.