What does overcome mean?
Overcome is a versatile verb meaning to get past a difficulty, defeat an obstacle, or rise above a powerful adverse influence. It is often used with challenges, problems, fears, and resistance: a person overcomes doubt, a team overcomes technical difficulties, or a process overcomes a barrier. The word can also describe defeating an opponent or overpowering a force, though this use is less frequent in modern everyday language. Its central connotation is successful perseverance: overcoming something usually implies that it presented a meaningful obstacle and required effort, courage, or resourcefulness. In the phrase “overcome adversity,” for example, the word emphasizes not merely encountering hardship but prevailing over it. Although “overcome” and “conquer” overlap in meaning, “overcome” is especially natural with difficulties, emotions, and practical obstacles, while “conquer” can carry broader or more dramatic associations.
verbTo succeed in dealing with or overcoming a difficulty, obstacle, challenge, or emotional state. It can also mean to defeat or gain control over an opponent, force, or resistance.
- To succeed in dealing with or getting past a difficulty, obstacle, or challenge.
- To rid oneself of or rise above a difficult or unpleasant feeling, such as fear, doubt, or grief.
- To defeat or gain control over an opponent, force, or resistance.
"Despite the delays, the team overcame the technical problems and completed the project on time."
"She overcame her fear of public speaking and delivered a confident presentation."
"The soldiers overcame heavy resistance and reached the village before nightfall."
To overcome something is to move from being blocked by it to being able to act despite it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does overcome come from?
The verb developed from Old English ofercuman, formed from the elements over and cuman, “to come.” The original sense referred to coming over or surpassing an opponent or difficulty. The word appears in Middle English and later developed the modern meanings of conquering an obstacle, mastering a challenge, or rising above fear and adversity.
Related word forms
How overcome is actually used
Usually transitive and used with a difficulty, challenge, obstacle, feeling, or opposing force. It is common in formal and informal contexts and can imply persistence as well as final success.