overpass

1 of 2

verb

over·​pass ˌō-vər-ˈpas How to pronounce overpass (audio)
overpassed; overpassing; overpasses

transitive verb

1
: to pass across, over, or beyond : cross
also : surpass
2
3

overpass

2 of 2

noun

over·​pass ˈō-vər-ˌpas How to pronounce overpass (audio)
: a crossing of two highways or of a highway and pedestrian path or railroad at different levels where clearance to traffic on the lower level is obtained by elevating the higher level
also : the upper level of such a crossing

Example Sentences

Verb to keep peace in the family, he was forced to overpass his in-laws' frequent put-downs a filmmaker whose technical bravura overpasses his ability to tell a coherent story Noun Boys stood beneath the highway overpass. Traffic was stalled on the overpass.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Sometimes, Radulov has the propensity to overpass the puck, particularly on the rush. Matthew Defranks, Dallas News, 27 Mar. 2020 The Clearview Parkway and Cleary Avenue overpasses at I-10 are closed. Greg Larose, NOLA.com, 17 Jan. 2018 The Clearview Parkway and Cleary Avenue overpasses at I-10 are closed. Greg Larose, NOLA.com, 17 Jan. 2018
Noun
Barrio Logan is home to Mexican street art, focused on Chicago Park beneath the San Diego-Coronado Bridge overpass, where a display of colorful murals are painted on the bridge's pillars. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2023 Moments later, at the intersection where Third Avenue reaches the I-65 overpass, motorcyclist John Williams, who had also been at the club but not involved in any of the altercations, was struck from behind by Jackson. Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 14 Jan. 2022 The strong winds wreaked havoc in the area, knocking over a semi truck and leaving it dangling on an overpass and toppling trees across El Dorado, Amador and Sacramento counties. Anchorage Daily News, 10 Jan. 2023 The strong winds wreaked havoc in the area, knocking over a tractor-trailer and leaving it dangling on an overpass, and toppling trees across El Dorado, Amador and Sacramento counties. Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2023 The strong winds wreaked havoc in the area, knocking over a semi truck and leaving it dangling on an overpass and toppling trees across El Dorado, Amador and Sacramento counties. oregonlive, 10 Jan. 2023 On that day, shortly before Xi secured a precedent-breaking third term, two banners were hung on an overpass of a major thoroughfare in the northwest of Beijing, protesting against Xi’s zero-Covid policy and authoritarian rule. Steven Jiang, CNN, 11 Nov. 2022 Similar messages appeared around Jacksonville over the weekend referencing West's antisemitic comments, including banners displayed on an overpass and projected on a building in the city. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2022 The police presence in the city has been gradually tightening for weeks, especially after a rare demonstration in Beijing in which a protester hung banners on an overpass that called Mr. Xi a traitor and a dictator. Brian Spegele, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overpass.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overpass was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near overpass

Cite this Entry

“Overpass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overpass. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

overpass

1 of 2 verb
over·​pass ˌō-vər-ˈpas How to pronounce overpass (audio)
1
: to pass across, over, or beyond
2
3

overpass

2 of 2 noun
over·​pass ˈō-vər-ˌpas How to pronounce overpass (audio)
1
: a crossing (as of two highways or of a highway and railroad) at different levels usually by means of a bridge
2
: the upper level of an overpass

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