overtake
verb (used with object)
to catch up with in traveling or pursuit; draw even with.
had overtaken
-
past perfectof overtake.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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 surge in growth saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government declare in December that India had overtaken Japan as the world's fourth-largest economy.
From Barron's ● Mar. 8, 2026
By May 2017, “The Late Show” had overtaken “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in the ratings and has remained on top ever since.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2025
By the time he was 49, Swaggart had overtaken Robert Schuller and Oral Roberts as the king of television preachers, reaching 2 million households a week and appearing on more than 500 stations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2025
The unsportsmanlike aspect of the protest was about Russell pointing out that Verstappen had overtaken him in those circumstances.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2025
Still dazed, fearful the riders had overtaken him, Taran started up.
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
