Irregular verb
The verb to overcome
overcome → overcame → overcome
B1Meaning: to succeed in dealing with a problem or fear · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they overcome·he/she/it overcomes - Past Simple:
overcame(like come → came) - Past participle:
overcome(the same as the base form) - -ing form:
overcoming
Conjugation of the verb to overcome
Present Simple
| I | overcome |
| You | overcome |
| He / She / It | overcomes |
| We | overcome |
| You (pl.) | overcome |
| They | overcome |
Past Simple
| I | overcame |
| You | overcame |
| He / She / It | overcame |
| We | overcame |
| You (pl.) | overcame |
| They | overcame |
All the forms of the verb to overcome
Present Simple
Full pageovercome / overcomes
“She overcomes every challenge.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are overcoming
“I am overcoming the problem right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageovercame
“She overcame her fear.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were overcoming
“I was overcoming the problem when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has overcome
“I have already overcome the problem.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad overcome
“She had already overcome the problem when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill overcome
“I will overcome the problem tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to overcome
“I'm going to overcome the problem this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould overcome
“I would overcome the problem if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to overcome
1. Overcoming an obstacle
- She overcame her fear.
2. Overcome by (a feeling)
Overcome by + a feeling means the feeling is too strong to control.
- I was overcome by joy.
A common mistake
1. Overcomed ❌
Overcome works like come: overcame in the Past Simple, overcome for the past participle. She overcame her fear.
What's next?
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of overcome?+
Overcame. The past participle is overcome (the same as the base form). Overcome → overcame → overcome. It works like come → came → come, because overcome = over + come.
What does overcome by emotion mean?+
Overcome by emotion (passive) means a feeling is so strong that you cannot control it. She was overcome by joy. You can use by or with: overcome with emotion is also common.
What is We Shall Overcome?+
We Shall Overcome is the anthem of the American civil rights movement in the 1960s. This protest song is linked to Martin Luther King and the fight against segregation (keeping Black and white people apart). Its message: one day, we will win against our problems.
What is the difference between overcome and beat?+
Overcome = to succeed against an obstacle, a challenge or a fear (abstract). Beat = to win against an opponent in a sport or a game (concrete). She overcame her fear. She beat her opponent.
Is it overcame or overcomed?+
Overcome = over + come, so it follows the irregular verb come. Never overcomed. Other examples: become → became → become, undertake → undertook → undertaken.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/overcome
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.