overwhelm

Everyday

1. To overwhelm someone is to give them so much of a feeling or so much to do that they can't cope. tree →
2. To overwhelm an enemy or team is to beat them completely with greater force. tree →
3. To overwhelm can mean to cover completely, like a flood. tree →

In the lessons

In feelings and well-being lessons: feeling overwhelmed is normal; break the task into small steps and talk to someone. In history and sport: an army overwhelms its enemy.

Examples

• The noise of the party overwhelmed me. tree →
• I was overwhelmed by all the kind messages. tree →
• When homework overwhelms you, do one task at a time. tree →
• The bigger army overwhelmed the castle. tree →
• The wave overwhelmed the small boat. tree →
• She felt overwhelmed on her first day at school. tree →
• The king was overwhelmed with astonishment, but the girl had taken heart again. tree →

Note

Past: overwhelmed. Adjective: overwhelming (an overwhelming win = a very large win). The h after w is silent for many speakers.

In Jewish tradition

In Psalms and Job it describes fear, trouble or floods that seem to cover a person completely.

Interpretation. Tradition reads these Psalms as prayers of someone in great distress who turns to God for rescue.

Examples

• Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. (Writings PSA.55.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul; (Writings PSA.124.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• Terrors shall overwhelm him on every side, and shall entrap him at his feet. (Writings JOB.18.11, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past: overwhelmed. Adjective: overwhelming (an overwhelming win = a very large win). The h after w is silent for many speakers.