overwhelming

overwhelming
[[t]o͟ʊvə(r)(h)we̱lmɪŋ[/t]]
♦♦♦
1) ADJ-GRADED If something is overwhelming, it affects you very strongly, and you do not know how to deal with it.

The task won't feel so overwhelming if you break it down into small, easy-to-accomplish steps...

She felt an overwhelming desire to have another child.

Syn:
Derived words:
overwhelmingly ADV-GRADED ADV adj

Women of his own middle class found him overwhelmingly attractive.

...the overwhelmingly strange medieval city of Fes.

2) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n (emphasis) You can use overwhelming to emphasize that an amount or quantity is much greater than other amounts or quantities.

The overwhelming majority of small businesses go broke within the first twenty-four months...

The party won an overwhelming victory in Burma's general elections last May...

The vote was overwhelming - 283 in favour, and only twenty-nine against.

Derived words:
overwhelmingly ADV usu ADV with v, also ADV adj

The House of Commons has overwhelmingly rejected calls to bring back the death penalty for murder...

Although things are changing the medical establishment is still overwhelmingly male.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Overwhelming — O ver*whelm ing, a. Overpowering; irresistible. {O ver*whelm ing*ly}, adv. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • overwhelming — index compelling, formidable, indomitable, ineffable, invincible, irresistible, lurid, moving (evoking emotion) …   Law dictionary

  • overwhelming — [adj] overpowering amazing, astounding, breathtaking, crushing, devastating, exciting, eye opening, mind boggling, overcoming, paralyzing, shattering, staggering, stunning, vast; concept 42 …   New thesaurus

  • overwhelming */ — UK [ˌəʊvə(r)ˈwelmɪŋ] / US [ˌoʊvərˈwelmɪŋ] / US [ˌoʊvərˈhwelmɪŋ] adjective 1) much larger, stronger, more important etc than anything else in a situation overwhelming majority: An overwhelming majority voted against his proposal. overwhelming odds …   English dictionary

  • overwhelming — o|ver|whelm|ing [ˌəuvəˈwelmıŋ US ˌouvər ] adj 1.) having such a great effect on you that you feel confused and do not know how to react ▪ an overwhelming sense of guilt ▪ She felt an overwhelming desire to hit him. ▪ She found the city quite… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • overwhelming — o|ver|whelm|ing [ ,ouvər welmıŋ, ,ouvər hwelmıŋ ] adjective * 1. ) much larger, stronger, more important, etc. than anything else in a situation: overwhelming majority: An overwhelming majority voted against his proposal. overwhelming odds: The… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • overwhelming*/ — [ˌəʊvəˈwelmɪŋ] adj 1) making you feel a very strong emotion that you cannot control I had the overwhelming desire to get up and leave.[/ex] 2) much larger or more important than anything else in a situation An overwhelming majority voted against… …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • overwhelming — adj. VERBS ▪ be, seem ▪ become ADVERB ▪ completely, quite ▪ almost …   Collocations dictionary

  • overwhelming — adjective 1 having such a great effect on you that you feel confused and do not know how to react: The sheer size of the place will seem overwhelming and confusing at first. | overwhelming generosity 2 overwhelming numbers/majority/odds etc very… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • overwhelming — adjective Date: 1702 tending or serving to overwhelm < overwhelming force >; also extreme, great < overwhelming indifference > < an overwhelming majority > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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