overwhelm

overwhelm
o|ver|whelm [ˌəuvəˈwelm US ˌouvər-] v [T usually passive]
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
1¦(emotion)¦
2¦(too much)¦
3¦(surprise somebody)¦
4¦(defeat somebody)¦
5¦(water)¦
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: whelm 'to turn over, cover up' (13-19 centuries)]
1.) ¦(EMOTION)¦
if someone is overwhelmed by an emotion, they feel it so strongly that they cannot think clearly
be overwhelmed by sth
Harriet was overwhelmed by a feeling of homesickness.
be overwhelmed with sth
The children were overwhelmed with excitement.
Grief overwhelmed me.
2.) ¦(TOO MUCH)¦
if work or a problem overwhelms someone, it is too much or too difficult to deal with
be overwhelmed by sth
We were overwhelmed by the number of applications.
overwhelm sb with sth
They would be overwhelmed with paperwork.
3.) ¦(SURPRISE SOMEBODY)¦
to surprise someone very much, so that they do not know how to react
be overwhelmed by sth
I was completely overwhelmed by his generosity.
We were overwhelmed by the sheer size of the place.
4.) ¦(DEFEAT SOMEBODY)¦
to defeat an army completely
In 1532 the Spaniards finally overwhelmed the armies of Peru.
5.) ¦(WATER)¦
literary if water overwhelms an area of land, it covers it completely and suddenly

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • overwhelm — [v1] flood, beat physically bury, conquer, crush, defeat, deluge, destroy, drown, drub*, engulf, inundate, massacre, overcome, overflow, overpower, overrun, overthrow, rout, smother, submerge, swamp, thrash, total*, whip*, win*; concepts 86,95… …   New thesaurus

  • Overwhelm — O ver*whelm , n. The act of overwhelming. [R.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Overwhelm — O ver*whelm , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Overwhelmed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Overwhelming}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To cover over completely, as by a great wave; to overflow and bury beneath; to ingulf; hence, figuratively, to immerse and bear down; to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • overwhelm — I verb astonish, beat, besiege, bewilder, bury, confound, confuse, conquer, daze, defeat, deluge, demergere, destroy, discomfit, immerse, impress, inundate, master, obruere, opprimere, overcome, overpower, overrun, overthrow, quash, quell, shock …   Law dictionary

  • overwhelm — (v.) early 14c., to turn upside down, to overthrow, from OVER (Cf. over) + M.E. whelmen to turn upside down (see WHELM (Cf. whelm)). Meaning to submerge completely is mid 15c. Perhaps the connecting notion is a boat, etc., washed over, and… …   Etymology dictionary

  • overwhelm — ► VERB 1) submerge beneath a huge mass. 2) defeat completely; overpower. 3) have a strong emotional effect on. DERIVATIVES overwhelming adjective. ORIGIN from archaic whelm engulf or submerge , from Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • overwhelm — [ō΄vər hwelm′, ō΄vərwelm′] vt. [ME oferwhelmen: see OVER & WHELM] 1. to pour down upon and cover over or bury beneath 2. to make helpless, as with greater force or deep emotion; overcome; crush; overpower 3. Obs. to overthrow or overturn… …   English World dictionary

  • overwhelm — verb ADVERB ▪ absolutely, completely, totally ▪ quite, rather ▪ almost, nearly ▪ suddenly …   Collocations dictionary

  • overwhelm — [[t]o͟ʊvə(r)(h)we̱lm[/t]] overwhelms, overwhelming, overwhelmed 1) VERB If you are overwhelmed by a feeling or event, it affects you very strongly, and you do not know how to deal with it. [be V ed] He was overwhelmed by a longing for times past …   English dictionary

  • overwhelm */ — UK [ˌəʊvə(r)ˈwelm] / US [ˌoʊvərˈwelm] / US [ˌoʊvərˈhwelm] verb [transitive] Word forms overwhelm : present tense I/you/we/they overwhelm he/she/it overwhelms present participle overwhelming past tense overwhelmed past participle overwhelmed 1) a) …   English dictionary

  • overwhelm — /oh veuhr hwelm , welm /, v.t. 1. to overcome completely in mind or feeling: overwhelmed by remorse. 2. to overpower or overcome, esp. with superior forces; destroy; crush: Roman troops were overwhelmed by barbarians. 3. to cover or bury beneath… …   Universalium

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