overpower

/ˌəʊvəˈpaʊə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌəʊvərˈpaʊər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌō-vər-ˈpau̇(-ə)r/ (ame, mw)

overpower — verb

  • overpowerpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • overpowershe / she / it
  • overpoweredpast simple
  • overpowering-ing form

1. to bring someone under your control in a fight or struggle because you are stron

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to bring someone under your control in a fight or struggle because you are stronger.

例句

Two shop workers overpowered the robber before the police arrived.

pattern: overpower + robber/opponent

Although injured, Hana overpowered her attacker and ran into the street.

main clause shows physical struggle

同義詞
  • subdue

    slightly more formal and often used for bringing a violent person under control

  • overcome

    broader and can also refer to defeating problems, not only people

  • beat

    common for winning in contests, with less focus on force and control

  • dominate

    can describe clear control without an actual physical struggle

反義詞
  • yield to

    to stop resisting and let the other side take control

  • lose to

    used when the other person or team wins

文法句型

overpower + attacker/guard/opponent

overpower + somebody in a struggle

用法筆記

Usually takes a person or animal as the direct object, often in reports of attacks, arrests, or sporting contests. It suggests physical force more strongly than sense 2.

常見錯誤

❌The guard was overpowered from the thief.
✅The guard was overpowered by the thief.
💡use 'by' after the passive form.
❌Hana overpowered against her attacker.
✅Hana overpowered her attacker.
💡the person defeated is the direct object.

2. if a smell, feeling, or physical force overpowers someone, it becomes too strong

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

if a smell, feeling, or physical force overpowers someone, it becomes too strong for that person to bear, leaving them faint, sick, or unable to act normally.

例句

Inside the tiny kitchen, the gas smell overpowered Mia within seconds.

active pattern: smell overpowered somebody

At the funeral, Mr. Lee was overpowered by grief.

usual pattern: be overpowered by emotion

同義詞
  • overwhelm

    the closest everyday word for a feeling or force that is too much to handle

  • overcome

    common in the passive for grief, smoke, heat, or exhaustion

  • disable

    focuses more on stopping action and less on the intensity of the feeling

反義詞
  • withstand

    to remain able to act despite pressure, heat, or pain

  • recover from

    to return to normal after being strongly affected

文法句型

be overpowered by + smell/emotion/smoke

smell/feeling + overpower + somebody

用法筆記

Usually appears in the passive with 'by' after a strong feeling, smell, smoke, or heat. Distinguish from sense 1: here the force does not fight you directly but affects your body or mind so strongly that normal action becomes difficult.

常見錯誤

❌Mia was overpowered of the gas smell.
✅Mia was overpowered by the gas smell.
💡use 'by' with the passive pattern.
❌The smoke overpowered to the miners.
✅The smoke overpowered the miners.
💡in the active pattern, the affected people are the direct object.