overcame obstacles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overcame obstacles" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing challenges that someone has successfully dealt with or surmounted. Example: "Despite facing numerous challenges, she overcame obstacles to achieve her goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Turn your weakness into strengths and illustrate how you overcame obstacles, showed resilience and remained persistent in your goals.

Cornell University

Writer gives history of cable TV: how it overcame obstacles; how the industry was galvanized by HBO's satellite service; the rise of conglomerates like Warner Communications; the great change in the Hollywood movie business because of cable.

The New Yorker

Nevertheless, in making the podium and recording her fastest time for four years, not to mention qualifying for a fifth Olympic Games, the 37-year-old overcame obstacles of her own on the comeback trail.

Independent

The book profiles couples who married according to the Real Simple ethos, including one who got engaged during proposal season last year and overcame obstacles of geography (the bridegroom is Irish, the bride is from North Carolina) and budget (they held a potluck dinner) to create their ideal wedding.

The New York Times

Tell the story of how you overcame obstacles, and describe the people who helped you.

Forbes

Jason Bruck, PhD'13, overcame obstacles to perform the first study showing that the cognitive sophistication of dolphins rivals that of humans.

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Each of these women stepped up, led by example, and overcame obstacles--each on her own terms!

HuffPost

He was a Tzaddik who survived so much and overcame great obstacles to come to this country.

The New York Times

But as he and others describe it, bringing the story to film became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts, a labor of love that overcame considerable obstacles.

The New York Times

Think of persuasive examples that illustrate situations in which you had a positive, measurable impact, brought a relevant skill to bear on a task, or overcame significant obstacles to achieve a goal.

Stanford University

Reading through "Perfect I'm Not," you might think Wells overcame enormous obstacles placed in his way by anal-retentive managers, pitching coaches and general managers who routinely doubted him and had the gall to wonder about his elastic girth.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overcame obstacles" to highlight resilience and determination in the face of adversity, emphasizing the positive outcome of a challenging situation.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that someone "overcame obstacles" without specifying what those obstacles were. Provide context to make the achievement more meaningful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overcame obstacles" functions as a verb phrase describing an action of successfully dealing with or surpassing difficulties. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is both correct and commonly used across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

17%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overcame obstacles" is a versatile and widely used phrase that effectively conveys the idea of successfully navigating challenges. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used. It's important to provide context when using this phrase to make the achievement more meaningful and avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "surmounted challenges" or "prevailed against the odds" can be used to add nuance. By following these guidelines, you can confidently use the phrase "overcame obstacles" to highlight resilience and achievement in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surmounted challenges

Implies a great effort to rise above difficulties.

conquered adversity

Suggests a victory over unfavorable conditions.

triumphed over hardships

Highlights the successful navigation of difficult circumstances.

prevailed against the odds

Emphasizes the improbability of success.

navigated difficulties

Focuses on skillful guidance through problems.

beat the odds

A more informal way of saying prevailed against the odds.

rose above challenges

Highlights overcoming difficulties and moving to a better position.

weathered the storm

Implies enduring through a difficult period.

coped with adversity

Indicates managing and dealing with tough situations, but might not fully imply overcoming them.

addressed difficulties

Highlights focusing on the problems but might not fully imply resolving them.

FAQs

How can I use "overcame obstacles" in a sentence?

You can use "overcame obstacles" to describe how someone successfully dealt with challenges to achieve a goal. For instance, "Despite facing numerous setbacks, she "overcame obstacles" to graduate with honors."

What are some alternatives to saying "overcame obstacles"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "surmounted challenges", "conquered adversity", or "prevailed against the odds".

Is it better to say "overcame obstacles" or "overcame an obstacle"?

The choice depends on whether you're referring to multiple challenges or a single, significant one. "Overcame obstacles" implies multiple difficulties, while "overcame an obstacle" refers to a singular challenge.

What's the difference between ""overcame obstacles"" and "managed difficulties"?

"Overcame obstacles" suggests a complete resolution of the challenges, while "managed difficulties" implies dealing with them effectively, though not necessarily eliminating them entirely.