Nominal Forms
Infinitive: to overcome
Participle: overcome
Gerund: overcoming
Indicative
Present
| I | overcome |
| you | overcome |
| he;she;it | overcomes |
| we | overcome |
| you | overcome |
| they | overcome |
Perfect
| I | have overcome |
| you | have overcome |
| he;she;it | has overcome |
| we | have overcome |
| you | have overcome |
| they | have overcome |
Past
| I | overcame |
| you | overcame |
| he;she;it | overcame |
| we | overcame |
| you | overcame |
| they | overcame |
Pluperfect
| I | had overcome |
| you | had overcome |
| he;she;it | had overcome |
| we | had overcome |
| you | had overcome |
| they | had overcome |
Future
| I | will overcome |
| you | will overcome |
| he;she;it | will overcome |
| we | will overcome |
| you | will overcome |
| they | will overcome |
Future Perfect
| I | will have overcome |
| you | will have overcome |
| he;she;it | will have overcome |
| we | will have overcome |
| you | will have overcome |
| they | will have overcome |
Subjunctive
Present
| I | overcome |
| you | overcome |
| he;she;it | overcome |
| we | overcome |
| you | overcome |
| they | overcome |
Perfect
| I | have overcome |
| you | have overcome |
| he;she;it | have overcome |
| we | have overcome |
| you | have overcome |
| they | have overcome |
Imperfect
| I | overcame |
| you | overcame |
| he;she;it | overcame |
| we | overcame |
| you | overcame |
| they | overcame |
Pluperfect
| I | had overcome |
| you | had overcome |
| he;she;it | had overcome |
| we | had overcome |
| you | had overcome |
| they | had overcome |
Conditional
Present
| I | would overcome |
| you | would overcome |
| he;she;it | would overcome |
| we | would overcome |
| you | would overcome |
| they | would overcome |
Perfect
| I | would have overcome |
| you | would have overcome |
| he;she;it | would have overcome |
| we | would have overcome |
| you | would have overcome |
| they | would have overcome |
Imperative
| you | overcome |
| we | Let's overcome |
| you | overcome |
Verbs similar to 'overcome'
overcode,
overcare,
overcite,
overclose,
overcoat,
overcook,
overcool,
overcover,
overdose,
overhope,
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- conquer
- beat, overwhelm, crush, overthrow, defeat, master, rout, win
- lick
- surmount, down, hurdle
- overpower
- subdue, discomfit, stun, overwhelm
- capture
- apprehend, appropriate, preempt, hold
Antonyms
- to compensate for, by applying a change in the opposite direction
- overpoise, overpower, surmount, offset
- conquer
- surrender, yield, forfeit
Additional Information
Phrasal Verbs
Etymology
1. O.E.
ofer-cuman "to reach, overtake," also "to conquer, prevail over," from
ofer "over" +
cuman "to come" (see come). A common Gmc. compound (cf. M.Du.
overkomen, O.H.G.
ubarqueman, Ger.
überkommen). In ref. to mental or chemical force, "to overwhelm, render helpless," it is in late O.E. Meaning "to surmount" (a difficulty or obstacle) is from c.1205. The Civil Rights anthem "We Shall Overcome" was put together c.1950s from lyrics from Charles Tindley's spiritual "I'll Overcome Some Day" (1901), and melody from pre-Civil War spiritual "No More Auction Block for Me."
2. Inherited from Middle English overcomen, inherited from Old English ofercuman (“to overcome, subdue, compel, conquer, obtain, attain, reach, overtake”). By surface analysis, over- + come. Cognate with Dutch overkomen, German überkommen, Danish overkomme, Swedish överkomma. See: Dutch '
overkomen', German, old spelling '
überkommen', Danish '
overkomme', Swedish '
överkomma'.
Verbs referencing "overcome"
Danish
overkomme.
Sample Sentences
-
[...] upon a new link of union with other spirits ! I could almost fix upon the moment when this truth dawned upon her mind, and spread its light to her countenance; I saw that the great obstacle was overcome; and that henceforward nothing but patient and persevering, but plain and straightforward, efforts were to be used.
(American Notes for General Circulation)
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Mr. Shelby was fairly overcome, and the tears rose to his eyes.
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
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[...] Then here's yer old shirts, and these yer is new ones. I toed off these yer stockings last night, and put de ball in ’ em to mend with. But Lor ! who'll ever mend for ye ? ” and Aunt Chloe, again overcome, laid her head on the box side, and sobbed. “ To think on ’ t ! no crittur to do for ye, sick or well ! I don't railly think I ought ter be good now ! ”
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
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[...] the phrenological character of each legislator was expressed: and I almost as often struck my questioner dumb with indignant consternation by answering ‘No, that I did n't remember being at all overcome. ’ As I must, at whatever hazard, repeat the avowal here, I will follow it up by relating my impressions on this subject in as few words as possible.
(American Notes for General Circulation)
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The trader had arrived at that stage of Christian and political perfection which has been recommended by some preachers and politicians of the north, lately, in which he had completely overcome every humane weakness and prejudice. His heart was exactly where yours, sir, and mine could be brought, with proper effort and cultivation. The wild look of anguish and utter despair that the woman [...]
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
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“ Amen, ” was the murmured response from the lips of Tom and Mammy, and some of the elder ones, who belonged to the Methodist church. The younger and more thoughtless ones, for the time completely overcome, were sobbing, with their heads bowed upon their knees.
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
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“ Well, Cousin, I know it is so, ” said Miss Ophelia,—“I know it was so with me, till I saw that it was my duty to overcome it; but, I trust I have overcome it; and I know there are many good people at the north, who in this matter need only to be _taught_ what their duty is, to do it. It would certainly be a [...]
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
-
“ Well, Cousin, I know it is so, ” said Miss Ophelia,—“I know it was so with me, till I saw that it was my duty to overcome it; but, I trust I have overcome it; and I know there are many good people at the north, who in this matter need only to be _taught_ what their duty is, to do it. It would certainly be a greater self-denial to receive heathen among [...]
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
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[...] that just exactly suited me,—and I 'm so hard to be suited ! — he should be taken ! And you seem to have so little feeling for me, and keep bringing it up to me so carelessly,—when you know how it overcomes me ! I suppose you mean well; but it is very inconsiderate,—very ! ” And Marie sobbed, and gasped for breath, and called Mammy to open the window, and to bring her the camphor-bottle, and to bathe [...]
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
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While this conversation was passing in the chamber, Legree, overcome with his carouse, had sunk to sleep in the room below. Legree was not an habitual drunkard. His coarse, strong nature craved, and could endure, a continual stimulation, that would have utterly [...]
(Uncle Tom’s Cabin)