overtake

verb

over·​take ˌō-vər-ˈtāk How to pronounce overtake (audio)
overtook ˌō-vər-ˈtu̇k How to pronounce overtake (audio) ; overtaken ˌō-vər-ˈtā-kən How to pronounce overtake (audio) ; overtaking

transitive verb

1
a
: to catch up with
b
: to catch up with and pass by
2
: to come upon suddenly

Examples of overtake in a Sentence

She overtook the other runners and went on to win the race. The sign says “No Overtaking.” Seasickness can overtake passengers when the ship encounters a storm.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
From her vantage point, Maria watches as nearby buildings are overtaken by infected and as her husband targets the bloater, luring him into an empty side street. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 21 Apr. 2025 Haiti hasn’t had a parliament since the last 10 senators left office in 2022 and its building is currently in a no-go zone that’s been overtaken by armed groups. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025 Paris, France Reuters — LVMH lost its position on Tuesday as Europe’s largest luxury company in terms of market capitalization after being overtaken by rival Hermès due to investor pessimism after disappointing first-quarter revenue from the sector bellwether. Reuters, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2025 Vietnam became the second largest apparel exporter in the world in 2024, overtaking Bangladesh. Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overtake

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from over entry 1 + taken to take

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of overtake was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Overtake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overtake. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

overtake

verb
over·​take ˌō-vər-ˈtāk How to pronounce overtake (audio)
overtook -ˈtu̇k How to pronounce overtake (audio) ; overtaken -ˈtā-kən How to pronounce overtake (audio) ; overtaking
1
a
: to catch up with
b
: to catch up with and pass by
2
: to come upon suddenly
a blizzard overtook the hunting party

More from Merriam-Webster on overtake

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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