How to pronounce overwhelm
Say it like oh-ver-WELM. Overwhelm has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (WELM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overwhelm. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- ver
- WELM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overwhelm pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- verKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- WELMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of overwhelm
- 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-WELM.
What does overwhelm mean?
- To engulf, surge over and submerge.“The dinghy was overwhelmed by the great wave.”
- To overpower, crush.“In December 1939 the Soviet Union attacked Finland with overwhelming force.”
- To overpower emotionally.“He was overwhelmed with guilt.”
- The state or condition of being overwhelmed.
Where does overwhelm come from?
Inherited from Middle English overwhelmen, equivalent to over- + whelm.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with overwhelm
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of overwhelm.
Questions about saying overwhelm
How do you pronounce overwhelm?
Say oh-ver-WELM. The American pronunciation is /ˌoʊvɚˈwɛlm/. In British English it is /ˌəʊvəˈwɛlm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overwhelm?
Overwhelm has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (WELM). Broken into parts: oh · ver · WELM.
Is overwhelm 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 /ˌəʊvəˈwɛlm/ (oh-vuh-WELM).