overcome

To deal successfully with a problem or difficulty that prevents you from doing something.

• You can overcome this problem.
• She overcame her fear of flying.
• How have they overcome the language barrier?

Similar words: get past, surmount, conquer

Common phrases: overcome a problem, overcome an obstacle, overcome your fear, overcome something together

To affect someone so strongly with a feeling or physical force that they cannot act normally.

• He was overcome with sadness.
• Smoke overcame the workers in the basement.
• She felt overcome by emotion as she thanked everyone.

How to use it: be overcome with something (She was overcome with joy when her son returned.); be overcome by something (Two workers were overcome by smoke.)

Similar words: overwhelm, overpower

Common phrases: overcome with grief, overcome by smoke, overcome with joy

To defeat someone in a fight or competition.

• They overcame the enemy.
• Our team overcame the champions in the final.
• The smaller army had overcome a much stronger force.

Similar words: defeat, beat, vanquish

Common phrases: overcome an opponent, overcome the enemy, overcome enemy forces