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# overwhelm

verb (overwhelm, overwhelms, overwhelmed, overwhelming)

«overwhelm» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelm/#m1)
2. To overwhelm an enemy or team is to beat them completely with greater force. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelm/#m2)
3. To overwhelm can mean to cover completely, like a flood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelm/#m3)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelm/#x1)
- I was overwhelmed by all the kind messages. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelm/#x2)
- When homework overwhelms you, do one task at a time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelm/#x3)
- The bigger army overwhelmed the castle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelm/#x4)
- The wave overwhelmed the small boat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelm/#x5)
- She felt overwhelmed on her first day at school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelm/#x6)
- The king was overwhelmed with astonishment, but the girl had taken heart again. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelm/#x7)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/overwhelm/#x1)
- Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul; (Writings PSA.124.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/overwhelm/#x2)
- Terrors shall overwhelm him on every side, and shall entrap him at his feet. (Writings JOB.18.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/overwhelm/#x3)

### Note

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

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «overwhelm» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelm/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«overwhelm» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/overwhelm.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «overwhelm» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/overwhelm/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«overwhelm» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/overwhelm.html) on Mova free.