overwhelming

What it means

1. Overpowering, staggering, or irresistibly strong.

   God is an overwhelming responsibility.

   1972, “Thick As A Brick”, Ian Anderson (lyrics), performed by Jethro Tull

   3 more examples

   The vote was taken at once, and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades.

   1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC

   It is this stretch which provides what is perhaps the most staggering scenic prospect of all; the impression made on the mind by the overwhelming height of the Eiger, towering over the train, is almost impossible to describe.

   1960 December, Voyageur, “The Mountain Railways of the Bernese Oberland”, in Trains Illustrated, page 754

   “What makes a eugenicist is this overwhelming faith that everything in human nature is determined by your genes,” he says.

   2018 October 16, John Blake, “When Americans tried to breed a better race: How a genetic fitness ‘crusade’ marches on”, in CNN

2. Very great or intense.
3. Extreme.

In a sentence

The vote was taken at once, and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades.

1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC

Where it comes from

1. Proto-Indo-European*úp
2. Proto-Indo-European*upér
3. Proto-Germanic*uber
4. Old Englishofer-
5. Middle Englishover-
6. Proto-Indo-European*kʷelp-
7. Proto-Germanic*kʷolpós
8. Proto-Germanic*hwalbazder.?
9. Proto-Indo-European*kʷelp-
10. Proto-Germanic*kʷólpo-
11. Proto-Germanic*hwalbąder.?
12. Old Englishhwealf
13. Old English*hwealfnian
14. Old English*hwealmnian?
15. Middle Englishwhelmen
16. Middle Englishoverwhelmen
17. Englishoverwhelm
18. Englishoverwhelming

From overwhelm + -ing.