overwhelm

overwhelm — verb

1. to give a person, group, or system more pressure, work, or difficulty than they

1.動詞及物
釋義

to give a person, group, or system more pressure, work, or difficulty than they can cope with well.

例句

Three emergency calls at once overwhelmed the tiny clinic staff.

too much demand for a small team

The online store was overwhelmed by orders after the TV show.

passive: be overwhelmed by orders

同義詞
  • overload

    common for machines, systems, schedules, and people given too much to handle

  • swamp

    more informal, often for being buried under work, calls, or messages

  • inundate

    more formal, often used for large numbers of requests, calls, or letters

  • bury

    informal, stressing that the amount hides everything else

反義詞
  • relieve

    to reduce the pressure or amount someone has to deal with

  • ease

    to make a heavy situation less difficult to manage

文法句型

work/pressure/problems + overwhelm + person/group

be overwhelmed by + work/orders/requests

用法筆記

Subject is often work, pressure, requests, orders, or a sudden number of people. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense does not require strong emotion, only more demand than someone or something can manage.

常見錯誤

❌Too many emails overwhelmed to me.
✅Too many emails overwhelmed me.
💡the affected person is the direct object.
❌The shop overwhelmed of orders.
✅The shop was overwhelmed by orders.
💡use the passive form with 'by' here.

2. to hit someone with such strong feeling that calm thought or action becomes hard

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to hit someone with such strong feeling that calm thought or action becomes hard.

例句

When the lights came up, Maria was overwhelmed by relief.

usual pattern: be overwhelmed by + emotion

Grief overwhelmed Kenji as he opened his mother's final letter.

同義詞
  • overcome

    very close in meaning, especially with grief, emotion, or weakness

  • overpower

    often stresses the strength of the feeling or sensation

  • flood

    often used when a feeling seems to pour into someone suddenly

反義詞
  • recover

    to return to normal control after a strong emotional shock

  • stay calm

    to remain emotionally controlled instead of being overcome

文法句型

be overwhelmed by + emotion

feel overwhelmed

emotion/news/memory + overwhelm + person

用法筆記

Usually passive with 'by' plus a feeling, though an emotion, memory, or piece of news can also be the subject. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about a powerful emotional effect, not too much work or pressure.

常見錯誤

❌Maria was overwhelmed from relief.
✅Maria was overwhelmed by relief.
💡the passive form usually takes 'by'.
❌The news overwhelmed to Nora.
✅The news overwhelmed Nora.
💡the affected person is the direct object.

3. to defeat a person, group, or defense because your power or numbers are much gre

3.動詞及物
釋義

to defeat a person, group, or defense because your power or numbers are much greater.

例句

By noon, government troops overwhelmed the rebels at the bridge.

overwhelm + enemy by superior force

A late wave of attacks overwhelmed the town's old stone walls.

同義詞
  • defeat

    the broadest choice, without the extra idea of great force or numbers

  • crush

    stronger and more dramatic, suggesting an easy or total win

  • rout

    more formal, especially for driving an enemy away in battle

反義詞
  • repel

    to push an attack back instead of being defeated by it

  • withstand

    to stay strong enough to resist the attack or pressure

文法句型

overwhelm + enemy/team/defense

overwhelm + somebody by superior numbers or power

用法筆記

Subject is usually an army, team, attacking force, or larger group. Distinguish from sense 1: here the other side is defeated, not simply unable to cope.

常見錯誤

❌The army overwhelmed against the rebels.
✅The army overwhelmed the rebels.
💡'overwhelm' takes a direct object here.
❌Our team was overwhelmed the visitors.
✅Our team overwhelmed the visitors.
💡use the active form when your team does the defeating.

4. when floodwater overwhelms an area, it rushes over it and leaves it fully under

4.動詞及物
釋義

when floodwater overwhelms an area, it rushes over it and leaves it fully under water.

例句

By dawn, the river overwhelmed homes beside the lower road.

water subject: river/floodwater overwhelm a place

Muddy water overwhelmed the station entrance within minutes.

同義詞
  • flood

    the most common everyday verb for water covering a place

  • engulf

    slightly more dramatic, suggesting complete covering

  • submerge

    more formal and often used when something goes under water

文法句型

floodwater/river/sea + overwhelm + place

be overwhelmed by water

用法筆記

Subject is usually river water, floodwater, waves, or the sea. This sense is common in disaster reports and focuses on physical covering, not emotional effect or extra pressure.

常見錯誤

❌Water overwhelmed on the village.
✅Water overwhelmed the village.
💡use a direct object, not 'on'.
❌The town overwhelmed by water quickly.
✅The town was overwhelmed by water quickly.
💡use the passive form when the place receives the action.