Overcome meaning in English
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Definition
to overcome (one's fears, one's enemies): to conquer, to triumph over (one's fears, one's enemies)
After being locked in the zoo overnight, she overcame her fear of animals. The day after, she was no longer scared of them.
she was overcome (by sadness): she suddenly experienced, she had a strong feeling of (sadness)
Examples
- "I sincerely want to help people overcome the difficulties they encounter in today's complex world of cosmetics."
- "It's called "How to read" and this book contains all the information you need to overcome your handicap."
- "Overcoming perceived ideas of what is and is not "masculine" will be a big hurdle, but I'm sure we can do it."
- "Did you know that on average, it takes approximately 6 favorable impressions to overcome 1 unfavorable impression?"
Exercise 1
Trey says that he sincerely wants to help people overcome the difficulties they encounter.
This means he wants to help people the problems which they encounter.
This means he wants to help people the problems which they encounter.
Trey says that he sincerely wants to help people overcome the difficulties they encounter.
This means he wants to help people resolve the problems which they encounter.
This means he wants to help people resolve the problems which they encounter.
resolve: "To overcome" problems is to succeed in a difficult endeavor, or to resolve a difficult problem. Example: My Aunt has overcome cancer three times.
realize: To "overcome" problems is not the same as to "realize" problems. To "realize that a problem exists" means to become aware of a problem. Example: I realized it was time to leave the party when everyone started getting naked and dancing on the tables.
appreciate: To "overcome" problems is not the same as to "appreciate" problems, which expresses that someone comes to realize and understand their problems. Example: I only really started to appreciate my problems when I started psychotherapy.
accept: To "overcome" problems is not the same as to "accept" problems, which expresses acknowledgement that the problems are real or exist. Example: Part of his difficulty is his refusal to accept his problems.
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks below with terms from the advertisement you've just heard.
Someone who cannot read is called .
A large sign used for outdoor advertising is called a .
When one conquers or defeats a problem they "" the problem.
To "be made fun of" or "mocked" is to be .
To be "denied access" or "to be left out" of something is to be .
Someone who cannot read is called .
A large sign used for outdoor advertising is called a .
When one conquers or defeats a problem they "" the problem.
To "be made fun of" or "mocked" is to be .
To be "denied access" or "to be left out" of something is to be .
Fill in the blanks below with terms from the advertisement you've just heard.
Someone who cannot read is called illiterate 1.
A large sign used for outdoor advertising is called a billboard 2.
When one conquers or defeats a problem they "overcome 3" the problem.
To "be made fun of" or "mocked" is to be ridiculed 4.
To be "denied access" or "to be left out" of something is to be excluded 5.
Someone who cannot read is called illiterate 1.
A large sign used for outdoor advertising is called a billboard 2.
When one conquers or defeats a problem they "overcome 3" the problem.
To "be made fun of" or "mocked" is to be ridiculed 4.
To be "denied access" or "to be left out" of something is to be excluded 5.
1 illiterate: The term "illiterate" means to be unable to read or write. A person who cannot read or write is called "illiterate".
2 billboard: A billboard is a large sign used for advertisements, generally in public places such as in the center of towns and cities or by major roads. Billboards are very commonly seen on highways and motorways.
3 overcome: To "overcome" something is to successfully fight against it or defeat it. One can overcome a problem, a fear, an opponent or a handicap. Example: I have overcome my fear of fish and recently bought an aquarium. The verb "to overcome" is synonymous with "conquer" and "defeat" in this context.
4 ridiculed: To be "ridiculed" is to be made to look "ridiculous" or to be "made fun of".
5 excluded: If one is "excluded" (from somewhere or some place), they are "denied access to it". To exclude, in the active sense, is "to deny access" or to prevent someone from being included. In this advertisement, the announcer mentions that people who can't read are often "excluded" from a group.
Exercise 3
"Overcoming perceived ideas of what is and is not "masculine" will be a big hurdle..."
From the list below, select those sentences which use the term "overcome" correctly.
There may be more than one correct answer!
From the list below, select those sentences which use the term "overcome" correctly.
There may be more than one correct answer!
"Overcoming perceived ideas of what is and is not "masculine" will be a big hurdle..."
From the list below, select those sentences which use the term "overcome" correctly.
There may be more than one correct answer!
From the list below, select those sentences which use the term "overcome" correctly.
There may be more than one correct answer!
This is an incorrect use of "to overcome". We could say "Bob came over very strange", to say that he "became" or "began to feel" strange.
This sentence uses "overcome" correctly. This is an example of the verb used in the passive form: "to be overcome (by something)". We use the verb in this way to talk about being overwhelmed by feelings or experiencing strong emotions.
This is a correct usage of the verb "to overcome". Here, the verb is used in its active form. This is the way in which Susie uses "to overcome" in her email (meaning "to triumph over"). Note that "to overcome" is irregular, and follows the same pattern as "to come": I overcome/I overcame/I have overcome.
This sentence doesn't make sense. We should say "do you want to come over to my house". Here, "to come over" shares a similar meaning with "to go to".
Exercise 4
Trey says that he sincerely wants to help people overcome the difficulties they encounter.
This means he wants to help people the problems which they .
This means he wants to help people the problems which they .
Trey says that he sincerely wants to help people overcome the difficulties they encounter.
This means he wants to help people resolve 1 the problems which they meet 2.
This means he wants to help people resolve 1 the problems which they meet 2.
1 resolve: "To overcome" problems is to succeed in a difficult endeavor, or to resolve a difficult problem. Example: My aunt has overcome cancer three times.
1 realize: To "overcome" problems is not the same as to "realize" problems. To "realize that a problem exists" means to become aware of a problem. Example: I realized it was time to leave the party when everyone started getting naked and dancing on the tables.
1 appreciate: To "overcome" problems is not the same as to "appreciate" problems, which expresses that someone comes to realize and understand their problems. Example: I only really started to appreciate my problems when I started psychotherapy.
1 accept: To "overcome" problems is not the same as to "accept" problems, which expresses acknowledgement that the problems are real or exist. Example: Part of his difficulty is his refusal to accept his problems.
2 meet: "Meet" is the best choice here. To "encounter" something is to "meet" it or "come across it". Here are a couple of examples: "Did you encounter any problems when installing the software?", "I encountered a very strange man on my way to work this morning: he stopped me in the street and gave me $5".
2 create: To "create" a problem or difficulty is to "make", "cause", or "generate" it. This does not share a similar meaning with "encounter", so it's not the best answer here.
2 can't change: This is not the best answer here. To "encounter" a problem or difficulty is unrelated to whether you can change it or not!
Exercise 5
Complete the blanks with terms used in the text. Use the hints to help you!
I am very timid at work, so I drink alcohol to (prevail over, conquer) my shyness.
The need to buy alcohol at the store before I go work is a real (annoyance, trouble, problem).
The irony is, I work for a charity that helps people with drinking problems, but I (deviate, depart) from my original point: I need a drink.
I am very timid at work, so I drink alcohol to (prevail over, conquer) my shyness.
The need to buy alcohol at the store before I go work is a real (annoyance, trouble, problem).
The irony is, I work for a charity that helps people with drinking problems, but I (deviate, depart) from my original point: I need a drink.
Complete the blanks with terms used in the text. Use the hints to help you!
I am very timid at work, so I drink alcohol to overcome 1 (prevail over, conquer) my shyness.
The need to buy alcohol at the store before I go work is a real inconvenience 2 (annoyance, trouble, problem).
The irony is, I work for a charity that helps people with drinking problems, but I digress 3 (deviate, depart) from my original point: I need a drink.
I am very timid at work, so I drink alcohol to overcome 1 (prevail over, conquer) my shyness.
The need to buy alcohol at the store before I go work is a real inconvenience 2 (annoyance, trouble, problem).
The irony is, I work for a charity that helps people with drinking problems, but I digress 3 (deviate, depart) from my original point: I need a drink.
1 overcome: "To overcome" is to conquer or triumph over. It is possible to overcome a problem, a fear, an opponent or a handicap. Example: In order to become a pilot, I had to OVERCOME my fear of flying. In the dialogue, Trey writes, "it takes approximately 6 favorable impressions to overcome 1 unfavorable impression". This means that it takes 6 good customer experiences to "defeat" or triumph over (and forget) 1 bad experience.
2 inconvenience: An "inconvenience" is a trouble, difficulty or annoyance. Example: Lack of cinemas is one of the INCONVENIENCES of living in the county. In the guide, Trey talks about apologizing for customers' inconvenience. This is a very common use of the term: we often say phrases such as, "sorry for the INCONVENIENCE" or "please accept our apologies for any INCONVENIENCE".
3 digress: "To digress" is to deviate from the principal subject of an article, conversation or meeting. Example: It was an interesting presentation, but the speaker kept DIGRESSING to talk about his holiday in Greece. In the guide, Trey writes, "If there were no business, well then, I'd probably still be cooking soup for old people at the senior center, but I digress." He says "I digress" to acknowledge that he is moving away from the main topic of the article.
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