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 court was told a witness saw Colville's white Ford Focus pull away at speed after overtaking her.
From BBC
Accelerate gently and drive slowly, and be especially cautious around high-sided vehicles and when overtaking.
From BBC
With up to four fabs, the facility will be the biggest of its kind, overtaking facilities used by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Intel.
From Barron's
With up to four fabs, the facility will be the biggest of its kind, overtaking facilities used by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and Intel.
From Barron's
Twenty-one-year-old Alisa Fielder from Surrey passed her test as a teenager but crashed a year ago as she was trying to overtake a lorry on a motorway.
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.
