overpass
Americannoun
-
overpasses
plural
verb (used with object)
-
overpasses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
overpassed,
past participle, past
-
overpast,
past participle, past
-
overpassing
present participle
-
to pass over or traverse (a region, space, etc.).
We had overpassed the frontier during the night.
-
to pass beyond (specified limits, bounds, etc.); exceed; overstep; transgress.
to overpass the bounds of good judgment.
-
to get over (obstacles, difficulties, etc.); surmount.
to overpass the early days of privation and uncertainty.
-
to go beyond, exceed, or surpass.
Greed had somehow overpassed humanitarianism.
-
to pass through (time, experiences, etc.).
to overpass one's apprenticeship.
-
to overlook; ignore; disregard; omit.
We could hardly overpass such grievous faults. The board overpassed him when promotions were awarded.
verb (used without object)
-
overpasses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
overpassed,
past participle, past
-
overpast,
past participle, past
-
overpassing
present participle
noun
verb
-
to pass over, through, or across
-
to exceed
-
to get over
-
to ignore
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
overpasssimple
-
overpassessimple
-
have overpassedperfect
-
have overpastperfect
-
has overpassedperfect
-
has overpastperfect
-
am overpassingprogressive
-
are overpassingprogressive
-
is overpassingprogressive
-
have been overpassingperfect progressive
-
has been overpassingperfect progressive
Past
-
overpassedsimple
-
overpastsimple
-
had overpassedperfect
-
had overpastperfect
-
was overpassingprogressive
-
were overpassingprogressive
-
had been overpassingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of overpass
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at over-, pass
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.
See Examples For:
The video shows a spray of debris flying as the truck struck the overpass, tipped over, and skidded on its side.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Seated on the overpass on a swelteringly hot day, the 32-year-old said he picked his particular strip of sidewalk for the shade it gets from the elevated 110 Freeway carpool lane.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026
In October 2022, a rare protest at a highway overpass in Beijing prompted authorities to post security officials at dozens of city overpasses, particularly ahead of notable political events and anniversaries—a practice that continues today.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
The force was called at about noon on 29 January to junction 17 westbound in Conwy Morfa, under the A547 overpass.
From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2026
We seem to be on some sort of long freeway overpass, like a bridge above the city.
From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
They seek shelter in tents, bushes and overpasses in a city that has struggled with one of the worst housing crises in the country.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026
In October 2022, a rare protest at a highway overpass in Beijing prompted authorities to post security officials at dozens of city overpasses, particularly ahead of notable political events and anniversaries—a practice that continues today.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
Parallel to the tramway, much of Alexandria's iconic corniche is now hidden behind overpasses, private businesses and beachside food courts.
From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026
His office said earlier this month that 119 miles were under construction and 58 structures, including bridges, overpasses and viaducts, have been completed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 17, 2026
He’d been hearing about the New Orleanians stranded under highway overpasses, and he didn’t want to be among them.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
"We could do a better job of getting pucks through. Maybe even shooting a little bit more. I think we overpassed at times."
From Fox News ● Mar. 3, 2022
They overpassed on some possessions, turning down layups and shooting 3’s instead.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 26, 2021
The Coyotes made it a two-goal lead 11:57 into the second period when the Capitals’ fourth line overpassed on an odd-man rush, leading to a turnover.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 11, 2018
“I thought we overpassed the puck early in the game for sure,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Johnston said.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 21, 2015
It would appear that Diaz was still unconscious that he had long reached and overpassed the extreme southern point of Africa, and was anxious to continue his voyage still farther.
From The Sea: Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril, & Heroism. Volume 3 by Frederick Whymper
O Lord, our God, in Thee do we put our trust and under the shadow of Thy wings do we make our refuge until these calamities be overpast.
From The Little Treasure of Prayers Being a Translation of the Epitome from the German Larger 'Treasure of prayers' ['Gebets-Schatz'] by Anonymous
During the French Revolution its surrender was demanded for the purpose of covering the guns; fortunately, however, a priest succeeded in concealing it until that storm was overpast.
From The Art of Needle-work, from the Earliest Ages, 3rd ed. Including Some Notices of the Ancient Historical Tapestries by Sutherland Menzies
He was beyond the reach of earthly solicitude—the swimming and buffeting, the toil and anxiety, were forever overpast; his feet already touched the solid ground.
From Jessamine A Novel by Marion Harland
I lay in all the prostration of a bruised and subdued spirit, praying fervently and loudly unto God that He might be pleased to cover me with his hand till his wrath was overpast.
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 21 by Alexander Leighton
Emboldened by this reflection and sustained by a sense of danger overpast, I even went to the length of attempting to pave the way for the reception of the happy solution.
From Mrs. Fitz by J. C. Snaith
And could stand to shoot the puck more rather than overpassing.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 29, 2022
“We’re actually probably overpassing laterally and sending pucks quickly through the slot that needed to just be put softly on net and make it chaos and a huge mess in front,” Johnson said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2022
Spooked, their forwards started overpassing whenever they got deep into the Capitals’ zone.
From New York Times ● May 13, 2013
One bridge spans the Pacific from the State of Washington to Siberia, overpassing the island of Sakhalin en route.
From Time Magazine Archive
The tornado, overpassing river and plain, burst on the southern hills.
From The Long Roll by Mary Johnston
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.
