Überwinden

Überwinden is a German verb meaning to overcome, surmount, or get over something, including obstacles, difficulties, emotions, or physical barriers. It can also imply defeating or prevailing over an opponent in a contest. The noun form is Überwindung, the act of overcoming.

Etymology: The verb derives from the prefix über- meaning “over” and a root related to winding or striving, with Old High German iberwinnan and Middle High German überwinden attested forms. The sense broadened from physical movement to overcoming challenges or adversity.

Usage: Überwinden is transitive and takes a direct object, for example Hindernisse überwinden (to overcome obstacles), Angst überwinden (to overcome fear), or Vorurteile überwinden. Conjugation follows strong-verb patterns: ich überwinde, du überwindest, er überwindet, wir überwinden, ihr überwindet, sie überwinden. The past forms are überwand and hat überwunden. In everyday speech, common sentences include “Er hat seine Angst überwunden” and “Sie müssen die Schwierigkeiten überwinden.”

Semantics and related terms: The verb emphasizes a movement from a lower or weaker position to a higher one, often after effort or persistence. Related terms include bewältigen (to cope with/manage), überwältigen (to overwhelm), and übertreffen (to surpass). In philosophy and psychology, Überwinden can denote processes of personal growth or self-overcoming, a theme often discussed in discussions of resilience and development.