overwhelm

== English == === Alternative forms === o'erwhelm (poetic) === Etymology === Inherited from Middle English overwhelmen, equivalent to over- +‎ whelm. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌəʊ.vəˈwɛlm/, /-ˈʍɛlm/ (Scotland) IPA(key): /ˌo.vɚˈʍɛlm/ (US) IPA(key): /ˌoʊ.vɚˈʍɛlm/, /-ˈwɛlm/ (Caribbean) IPA(key): /ˌoː.vaˈwɛlm/ (India) IPA(key): /ˌo.ʋəˈʋʱɛlm/ enPR: ōˌ-vər-hwĕlmˈ, -wĕlmˈ Rhymes: -ɛlm === Verb === overwhelm (third-person singular simple present overwhelms, present participle overwhelming, simple past and past participle overwhelmed) To engulf, surge over and submerge. Synonym: swamp To overpower, crush. To overpower emotionally. To cause to surround, to cover. ==== Synonyms ==== ==== Antonyms ==== underwhelm ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== whelm ==== Translations ==== === Noun === overwhelm (countable and uncountable, plural overwhelms) The state or condition of being overwhelmed. === See also === too many balls in the air