overtaken by events
idiom
: forced to be changed because of something that has suddenly and unexpectedly happened
The original date for the meeting was overtaken by events and had to be changed.
Examples of overtaken by events in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But eventual de-escalation and containment are never guaranteed; any state’s rational calculations favoring restraint can suddenly be overtaken by events on the ground, leading to miscalculations or even intentional strategic decisions to provoke a wider conflict.
—
Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 5 Aug. 2024
Instead of attempting to resuscitate the 2005 AU proposal, which has largely been overtaken by events, African nations should go back to the drawing board and begin a new process for reforming the multilateral system.
—Tim Murithi, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2023
Official decisions may be overtaken by events in any case.
—Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 31 July 2023
Wildfires and endless drought are the new normal, and even Ottilie’s efforts to do her part for sustainability rest on comfortable middle-class assumptions soon to be overtaken by events.
—Wendy Smith, Washington Post, 4 May 2023
The early and erroneous assessment that the threat was a gunman barricaded by himself, as opposed to an active shooter with victims all around him, was quickly overtaken by events at the school.
—Rachel Clarke, CNN, 7 Dec. 2022
Holiday traditions that define perfection are overtaken by events that shape new traditions.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2022
America’s grand new national defense strategy is finally ready to be implemented, it is either overtaken by events or a whole new team is settling into the White House.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022
Diplomacy is often overtaken by events on the ground.
—Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 16 July 2022
Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 5 Aug. 2024
Instead of attempting to resuscitate the 2005 AU proposal, which has largely been overtaken by events, African nations should go back to the drawing board and begin a new process for reforming the multilateral system.
—Tim Murithi, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2023
Official decisions may be overtaken by events in any case.
—Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 31 July 2023
Wildfires and endless drought are the new normal, and even Ottilie’s efforts to do her part for sustainability rest on comfortable middle-class assumptions soon to be overtaken by events.
—Wendy Smith, Washington Post, 4 May 2023
The early and erroneous assessment that the threat was a gunman barricaded by himself, as opposed to an active shooter with victims all around him, was quickly overtaken by events at the school.
—Rachel Clarke, CNN, 7 Dec. 2022
Holiday traditions that define perfection are overtaken by events that shape new traditions.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2022
America’s grand new national defense strategy is finally ready to be implemented, it is either overtaken by events or a whole new team is settling into the White House.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022
Diplomacy is often overtaken by events on the ground.
—Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 16 July 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overtaken by events.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near overtaken by events
Cite this Entry
“Overtaken by events.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overtaken%20by%20events. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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