Meaning & use
overpower
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To defeat or gain control of someone by being stronger or having more people or force.
Grammar: Takes an object: the guards overpowered the thief.
Patterns
- overpower someone
- be overpowered by someone
Two security guards managed to overpower the man and hold him until the police came.
The smaller team could not overpower their larger rivals in the final.
The villagers were overpowered by the invading army.
verbtransitive
To be so strong or intense that something else cannot be noticed or resisted, such as a taste, smell or feeling.
Grammar: Takes an object: the garlic overpowers the other flavors.
Patterns
- overpower something
- be overpowered by something
Too much perfume can overpower the scent of the flowers.
Grief overpowered her and she could not speak.
The loud drums overpowered the quiet flute.
Word forms
| third person singular | overpowers |
|---|---|
| past tense | overpowered |
| past participle | overpowered |
| -ing form | overpowering |
Common combinations
- overpower a guard
- The prisoners tried to overpower a guard and escape.
- overpower an opponent
- The wrestler overpowered his opponent in the first round.
- overpower the senses
- The smell of smoke overpowered the senses of everyone in the room.
- easily overpower
- The big dog could easily overpower a child.
- be overpowered by emotion
- He was overpowered by emotion as he accepted the prize.
- overpower the flavor
- Too much salt will overpower the flavor of the soup.
Synonyms and how they differ
- overcome
- Overcome is wider and also fits problems or illness, while overpower is mainly about stronger force or intensity.
- overwhelm
- Overwhelm suggests being buried under too much of something, such as work or emotion, rather than beaten by a stronger opponent.
- subdue
- Subdue stresses bringing someone under control and quieting them, not just winning with force.
- conquer
- Conquer is bigger and more formal, usually used for lands, fears or goals rather than a single struggle.
Opposites
Word family
- overpowering adjective
- so strong that it is hard to bear, as in an overpowering smell
- overpoweringly adverb
- in a way that is too strong to resist
- power noun
- strength or control
- powerful adjective
- having great strength or influence
Commonly confused: overpower or overpowered?
overpower vs overpowered
In games, an overpowered character is one so strong that it makes play unfair. This is a different use from the verb form.
Practice
Add only a little chili, or it will ______ the delicate flavor of the fish.
Choose one answer.
Overpower means to be so strong that something else cannot be tasted. Overtake means to pass something, so it does not fit the sentence.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “overpower”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.