overtake
Americanverb (used with object)
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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.
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to catch up with and pass, as in a race; move by.
He overtook the leader three laps from the finish.
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to move ahead of in achievement, production, score, etc.; surpass.
to overtake all other countries in steel production.
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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
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to move past (another vehicle or person) travelling in the same direction
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(tr) to pass or do better than, after catching up with
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(tr) to come upon suddenly or unexpectedly
night overtook him
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(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 ‘60s and ‘70s saw a roster of major artists, too long to list here, overtake prominent art scenes in San Francisco and then Chicago, America’s so-called “second city” for art.
From Los Angeles Times
The problem was, it was also going to inevitably rob them of track position around a track where overtaking is all but impossible.
From BBC
Now, homegrown rivals have overtaken Western brands in China in many industries.
It's because overtaking is so difficult at Qatar, which means that if Piastri gets into the first corner first, he is likely to win the race.
From BBC
He will be eyeing beating Norris into the first corner, knowing that, with overtaking so difficult, it might be his only hope of retaining his title chances.
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.
