overwhelm

UK: /ˌəʊvə^rˈ^hwɛlm/

US: /ˌoʊvɚˈhwɛlm, -ˈwɛlm/

US: (ō′vər hwelm′, -welm′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

o•ver•whelm /ˌoʊvɚˈhwɛlm, -ˈwɛlm/   v. [~ + object]

1. to overpower or overcome in mind or feeling:
   She was overwhelmed by remorse.
2. to overpower or defeat (a group) with greater force or numbers:
   The enemy battalion overwhelmed our defenders.
3. to burden excessively:
   He was overwhelmed with work, illness, and family problems.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

o•ver•whelm  (ō′vər 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 a mass of something, as floodwaters, debris, or an avalanche;
   submerge:
   Lava from erupting Vesuvius overwhelmed the city of Pompeii.
4. to load, heap, treat, or address with an overpowering or excessive amount of anything:
   a child overwhelmed with presents; to overwhelm someone with questions.
5. to overthrow.

• 1300–50; Middle English; see over-, whelm

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

overwhelm / ˌəʊvəˈwɛlm/ verb (transitive)

1. to overpower the thoughts, emotions, or senses of
2. to overcome with irresistible force
3. to cover over or bury completely
4. to weigh or rest upon overpoweringly