Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

overwhelm

 - 3 dictionary results

o⋅ver⋅whelm

  [oh-ver-hwelm, -welm]
Use overwhelm in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
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.
Origin:
1300–50; ME; see over-, whelm
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To overwhelm
o·ver·whelm   (ō'vər-hwělm', -wělm')   
tr.v.   o·ver·whelmed, o·ver·whelm·ing, o·ver·whelms

  1. To surge over and submerge; engulf: waves overwhelming the rocky shoreline.

    1. To defeat completely and decisively: Our team overwhelmed the visitors by 40 points.

    2. To affect deeply in mind or emotion: Despair overwhelmed me.

  3. To present with an excessive amount: They overwhelmed us with expensive gifts.

  4. To turn over; upset: The small craft was overwhelmed by the enormous waves.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

overwhelm 
c.1330, "to turn upside down, to overthrow," from over + M.E. whelmen "to turn upside down" (see whelm). Meaning "to submerge completely" is c.1450. Perhaps the connecting notion is a boat, etc., washed over, and overset, by a big wave. Fig. sense of "to bring to ruin" is attested from 1529.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see overwhelm on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way