How to pronounce overcome
Say it like OH-ver-kuhm. Overcome has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overcome. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OH
- ver
- kuhm
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overcome pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- verKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- kuhmGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of overcome
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: OH-vuh-kuhm.
What does overcome mean?
- win a victory over“You must overcome all difficulties”“defeat your enemies”
- get on top of; deal with successfully“He overcame his shyness”
- overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
Where does overcome come from?
Inherited from Middle English overcomen, inherited from Old English ofercuman (“to overcome, subdue, compel, conquer, obtain, attain, reach, overtake”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying overcome
How do you pronounce overcome?
Say OH-ver-kuhm. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊvɚˌkʌm/. In British English it is /ˈəʊvəˌkʌm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overcome?
Overcome has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH). Broken into parts: OH · ver · kuhm.
Is overcome pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈəʊvəˌkʌm/ (OH-vuh-kuhm).