# overcome

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˌəʊ.vəˈkʌm/ · frequency rank #4,545

## Definitions
1. To surmount (a physical or abstract obstacle); to prevail over, to get the better of.
2. To prevail.
3. To recover from (a difficulty), to get over.
4. To win against or prevail over in some sort of battle, contest, etc.
5. To come or pass over; to spread over.
6. To overflow; to surcharge.

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English overcomen, inherited from Old English ofercuman (“to overcome, subdue, compel, conquer, obtain, attain, reach, overtake”). By surface analysis, over- + come. Cognate with Dutch overkomen, German überkommen, Danish overkomme, Swedish överkomma.

## Easily confused with
- **overtime** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overcome-vs-overtime)
- **overdose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overcome-vs-overdose)
- **overdone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overcome-vs-overdone)
- **overcame** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overcame-vs-overcome)
- **overcoat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overcoat-vs-overcome)

## Common misspellings (11)
`oevrcome`, `ovecrome`, `overccome`, `overcmoe`, `overcoem`, `overcomme`, `overocme`, `overrcome`, `ovrecome`, `ovvercome`, `voercome`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/overcome