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Preposition after adjective

Overcome with

Overcome with is the standard expression for describing someone strongly affected by emotion, illness, or another powerful feeling.

Quick answer

When do we use overcome with?

Use overcome with to describe being strongly affected by an emotion or condition. The phrase is commonly followed by feelings such as grief, joy, fear, or emotion.

She was overcome with grief after the funeral.
He became overcome with emotion during the speech.
They were overcome with joy at the news.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
overcome with + emotion

Describing a strong emotional reaction

Use overcome with before emotions and feelings.

She was overcome with sadness for days.
He looked overcome with fear during the storm.
2
overcome with + physical condition

Describing physical effects

The phrase can also describe physical weakness or illness.

The runner was overcome with exhaustion after the race.
Several workers were overcome with smoke in the building.
3
become/get overcome with

Talking about a change of state

Become and get are common verbs before overcome with.

She became overcome with emotion while speaking.
He got overcome with anger during the argument.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
overcome with
She was overcome with relief.
Standard expression meaning strongly affected by a feeling or condition.
overcome by
He was overcome by emotion.
Also standard; often focuses more on the force causing the reaction.
overcome from
He was overcome from grief.
Not standard in this meaning.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using the wrong preposition

Overcome usually takes with or sometimes by in this meaning.

✕ She was overcome from sadness. ✓ She was overcome with sadness.

Forgetting the object after with

The phrase needs a feeling or condition after with.

✕ He was overcome with. ✓ He was overcome with emotion.

Using overcome as a simple adjective without context

Overcome normally appears with a complement explaining the cause.

✓ They were overcome with joy.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She was overcome ___ emotion during the ceremony.
2. The hikers were overcome ___ exhaustion.
3. He was overcome ___ grief after the loss.

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Frequently asked questions

Is overcome with formal or informal?

It works in both formal and everyday English.

Can I say overcome by emotion?

Yes. Overcome by emotion is also standard and slightly emphasizes the force causing the reaction.

Can overcome with describe physical conditions?

Yes. It can describe conditions such as exhaustion, smoke, or heat.

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