OVERTAKE Synonyms: 10 Similar and Opposite Words

overtake

verb

ˌō-vər-ˈtāk

Definition of overtake

as in to catch

to move fast enough to get even with she had to hurry to overtake her friends, who had forgotten their umbrellas the thunderstorm overtook them suddenly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fall short

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of overtake Eight years later, Amazon sits atop the Fortune Global 500 for the first time, overtaking Walmart to become the world’s largest company by revenue. — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 30 July 2026 While Chicago’s postseason probabilities are high, its chances of overtaking Milwaukee in the National League Central are low, meaning the Cubs are unlikely to receive a first-round bye. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 30 July 2026 The iPhone maker has overtaken Nvidia to become the world's most valuable company, reclaiming the market-cap crown from the AI chip giant. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 28 July 2026 The emotional value of an experience has simply overtaken the emotional value of owning another product. — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for overtake

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtake

Verb

While browsing for antiques, an eye caught the eyes of David and Nan Skier.

— Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
Gable suplexed Penta into the corner and went for a flying headbutt, but Penta caught him in an armbar, busting Gable’s shoulder.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of catch

Verb

Dylan Lee issued a pair of two-out walks in the eighth before getting pinch-hitter Paul Goldschmidt to strike out chasing a heater.

— Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 8 Aug. 2026
There was plenty of evidence on this point, the most important being that the Kittrells were being chased by creditors at the time of their transfers and the transfers left them insolvent and unable to satisfy their debts.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of chase

Verb

When reached via email Monday, City Attorney Tom Carpenter said his office did not draft the 18-month proposal.

— Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2026
Temperatures reached at least 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for five consecutive days in some areas in late July, the country’s longest such streak on record, and heatstroke alerts have repeatedly covered large portions of the country.

— Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of reach

Browse Nearby Words

overt

overtake

overtaken

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Overtake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtake. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of overtake

verb

Example Sentences

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