Pronunciation: /oʊvərˈwɛlm/

Definitions of overwhelm

verb to give someone too much of something, such as work or information, making them feel unable to deal with it

Example Sentences

A1 The amount of homework can overwhelm some students.

A2 She felt overwhelmed by the number of tasks she had to complete.

B1 The responsibilities of being a manager can overwhelm even the most organized person.

B2 The sheer volume of information in the report overwhelmed the team during the presentation.

C1 The complexity of the project overwhelmed the inexperienced team members.

C2 The emotional impact of the tragedy overwhelmed the entire community.

Examples of overwhelm in a Sentence

formal The sheer volume of data can overwhelm even the most experienced analysts.

informal I feel like my to-do list is starting to overwhelm me.

slang I was totally overwhelmed by the surprise party they threw for me.

figurative Her emotions threatened to overwhelm her as she watched the sunset.

Grammatical Forms of overwhelm

past tense

overwhelmed

plural

overwhelms

comparative

more overwhelmed

superlative

most overwhelmed

present tense

overwhelm

future tense

will overwhelm

perfect tense

have overwhelmed

continuous tense

is overwhelming

singular

overwhelm

positive degree

overwhelming

infinitive

to overwhelm

gerund

overwhelming

participle

overwhelming

Origin and Evolution of overwhelm

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'overwhelm' originated from the Old English word 'oferwealman' which means to overturn or overthrow.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'overwhelm' has evolved to encompass a feeling of being completely overcome or inundated by something, rather than just physically overturned.