overtake
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to catch up with in traveling or pursuit; draw even with.
By taking a cab to the next town, we managed to overtake and board the train.
-
to catch up with and pass, as in a race; move by.
He overtook the leader three laps from the finish.
-
to move ahead of in achievement, production, score, etc.; surpass.
to overtake all other countries in steel production.
-
to happen to or befall someone suddenly or unexpectedly, as night, a storm, or death.
The pounding rainstorm overtook them just outside the city.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to move past (another vehicle or person) travelling in the same direction
-
(tr) to pass or do better than, after catching up with
-
(tr) to come upon suddenly or unexpectedly
night overtook him
-
(tr) to catch up with; draw level with
Other Word Forms
- unovertaken adjective
Etymology
Origin of overtake
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English overtaken; over-, take
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The UK remained the world's third largest music market, while China overtook Germany as the fourth biggest, having entered the top 10 less than a decade ago.
From BBC
But in January, South Korea overtook China as the largest contingent, a trend that continued in February, with visitors from the country jumping 28.2 percent to 1.1 million.
From Barron's
Personal finance is overtaking economics in the classroom.
At seven and nine years old—blurs of untucked shirts, grimy knee pants, and stockings bagging down around their ankles— they overtook the shop with their noise.
From Literature
The "boost" and "overtake" modes provide extra electrical energy to help drivers pass their rivals.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
