1.overwhelm的基本意思是“覆盖”“淹没”“泛滥”,其主语常指水; 引申则可表示“压倒”“击败”,这时其主语常是人群。overwhelm 还可表示某人“…之极”“非常激动”“使不知所措”。
2.overwhelm是及物动词,其后接名词或代词作宾语。

overwhelm by(v.+prep.)
以…压倒… defeat or make powerless by sth
▲overwhelm sb by sth
Don't just win the match; overwhelm your opponents by about 20 goals to nil.不只是要赢这场比赛,而且要以大约20∶0的比分压倒对方。

overwhelm with(v.+prep.)
▲overwhelm sb with sth
1.被…压倒 defeat or make powerless by sth
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
I am overwhelmed with work.我给工作压垮了。
2.由于…使某人对…不知所措 make sb completely helpless for sth
After my lecture, the students began to overwhelm me with questions.讲课之后,学生们开始问一系列问题,让我不知所措。
He overwhelmed me with inquires.他问许多问题使我不安。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
He was overwhelmed with excitement.他极为兴奋。
She was overwhelmed with grief.她不胜悲伤。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
A great wave overwhelmed the boat.一个巨浪吞没了那只小船。
Their mission was to seize the bridges and overwhelm the garrison.他们的任务是夺取桥梁,击溃守敌。
That accident overwhelmed his career.那起事故毁掉了他一生的事业。
Invading armies overwhelmed the town.入侵的军队控制了这个城镇。
Sorrow overwhelmed the family.全家人悲伤不已。
His kindness overwhelmed us.他的好意使我们感到不安。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
The enemy were overwhelmed by superior forces.敌军被优越之兵击溃。
He was overwhelmed by the death of his father.他为父亲的去世而悲痛至极。