English Lexicon

Overpower

/ˌoʊ.vɚˈpaʊ.ɚ/
verbCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #14500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To defeat or gain control over someone or something by superior force, strength, or numbers.

    "The security guards managed to overpower the intruder before the police arrived."
  2. 2

    To affect someone so strongly that they are overcome emotionally or physically.

    "She was completely overpowered by grief upon hearing the tragic news."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the combination of the Old English prefix 'ofer-' (meaning over, beyond, or exceeding) and the Middle English noun 'power', originating from Old French 'poeir'. First recorded in the late 16th century, the term originally conveyed the literal sense of surpassing someone in physical strength before expanding to describe emotional or sensory overwhelming.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Overpower"?