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# overwhelming

adjective (overwhelming); also the -ing form of the verb overwhelm (overwhelm, overwhelms, overwhelmed, overwhelming)

«overwhelming» 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. Very great or strong, so that it is hard to deal with: "an overwhelming feeling of sadness". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelming/#m1)
2. Much bigger than the other side: "an overwhelming majority". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelming/#m2)
3. verb form: Being too much for someone, so they cannot cope. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelming/#m3)

### In the lessons

In wellbeing lessons, feelings or schoolwork can be overwhelming; the advice is to break tasks into small steps and talk to someone. In elections and votes, an overwhelming majority or win means by a very large amount. In stories, an army or wave may be overwhelming. Phrases: overwhelming majority, overwhelming evidence, feel overwhelmed.

### Examples

- The noise in the hall was overwhelming. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelming/#x1)
- The class voted by an overwhelming majority for a pet hamster. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelming/#x2)
- When homework feels overwhelming, start with one small task. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelming/#x3)
- There was overwhelming evidence that the dog ate the cake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelming/#x4)
- The kindness of our neighbours was overwhelming. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelming/#x5)
- The flood was overwhelming the town's defences. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelming/#x6)
- She felt overwhelmed on her first day at the new school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelming/#x7)
- Cycnus, the faithful friend of the unhappy Phaethon, felt such overwhelming grief at his terrible fate, that he pined and wasted away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overwhelming/#x8)

### Note

Spelling: overwhelming has "wh" and one m. "Overwhelmed" describes how a person feels; "overwhelming" describes the thing that causes it. In maths and voting, an overwhelming majority is far more than half, for example 27 votes out of 30.

## In Jewish tradition

Proverbs says anger is overwhelming, as in a flood that sweeps all away, yet jealousy is even harder to face.

**Interpretation.** Tradition teaches people to rule their anger and avoid jealousy, which can harm even more.

### Examples

- Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy? (Writings PRO.27.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/overwhelming/#x1)

### Note

Spelling: overwhelming has "wh" and one m. "Overwhelmed" describes how a person feels; "overwhelming" describes the thing that causes it. In maths and voting, an overwhelming majority is far more than half, for example 27 votes out of 30.

## On Mova

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