overwhelm

[ˌovɚˈʍɛlm]

[ˌəʊvəˈwɛlm]

[ˌoʊvɚˈwɛlm]

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To feel overwhelmed means being so stressed or burdened that you can't cope with something. It's like having too much weight on your shoulders.

When people say they're feeling overwhelmed, it often means they've taken on more than they can handle. Maybe they're juggling work, family, and other responsibilities all at once. Or maybe there's a big change happening in their life that's making them feel anxious or uncertain. You might hear someone say "I'm overwhelmed with schoolwork" or "This move is going to be really overwhelming."

How common is "overwhelm"?

Word overwhelm is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

noun

The state or condition of being overwhelmed.

verb

To engulf, surge over and submerge.
Example: The dinghy was overwhelmed by the great wave.
To overpower, crush.
Example: In December 1939 the Soviet Union attacked Finland with overwhelming force.
To overpower emotionally.
Example: He was overwhelmed with guilt.
To cause to surround, to cover.