1. overcome (a difficulty or obstacle): "all manner of cultural differences were surmounted"Similarovercomeconquerget overprevail overtriumph overget the better ofbeatvanquishmasterclearcrossmake one's way around/past/overmake it around/past/overpass overbe unstoppable bydeal withcope withresistendureOppositebe beaten by
2. stand or be placed on top of:"the tomb was surmounted by a sculptured angel"Similarcaptopcrowntiprise abovetower aboveovertopdominateOppositebe dominated by
Word Originlate Middle English (also in the sense ‘surpass, be superior to’): from Old French surmonter (see sur-1, mount1).