overtake
verb (used with object)
to catch up with in traveling or pursuit; draw even with.
overtaken
-
past participleof overtake.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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.
Sales of its namesake brand peaked in 1970, the heyday of the Beetle and the Bus, before it was overtaken by Japanese rivals that proved better at adapting to evolving American tastes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
But the pattern is becoming unmistakable: records that once marked the extreme edge of the UK's climate are being overtaken with remarkable speed.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
The court heard that as the police officers tended to the taxi driver, a motorist who had been driving behind the police car when they were both overtaken by the BMW arrived on the scene.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
Parents who have watched their children cycle through different hobbies, whether it’s crafting friendship bracelets or concocting homemade slime, will recognize the single-minded fervor that has overtaken the students of Class 203.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
The quiet hum of the radio has been overtaken by a rhythmic sawing sound.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
