Basic+ Word of the Day: overwhelm

overwhelm (verb) past tense: overwhelmed

"I don't want to overwhelm you, but could you do this first?"

Overwhelm means’ to overpower in mind or feeling.’

• Fred was overwhelmed with tears as he spoke of his late mother.
• When the audience cheered, the singer was overwhelmed with joy.

Overwhelm can also mean ‘to defeat with great power.’

• The opposing team overwhelmed them with their strong offense.

Overwhelm also means ‘to burden excessively.’

• Ellen was overwhelmed with English homework.

Related words

overwhelming: very powerful. Example: “Rod’s overwhelming feeling of guilt prevented him from sleeping.”

In pop culture

Listen to Robert Palmer sing “You Overwhelm Me.”

There are other meanings of overwhelm.