overtake

verb

over·​take ˌō-vər-ˈtāk 

overtook ˌō-vər-ˈtu̇k  ; overtaken ˌō-vər-ˈtā-kən  ; overtaking

transitive verb

1

a

: to catch up with

b

: to catch up with and pass by

2

: to come upon suddenly

Synonyms of overtake

• catch
• chase
• reach

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

The legislation, the majority leader warned at a news conference recently, could overtake the work of as many as a dozen committees. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

When her gaze falls on a stranger in the dining car, she’s overtaken by a fantasy involving a dashing army officer in Central Europe in the nineteen-twenties. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Graham Platner—who was running competitively in polls against Susan Collins, the Republican senator from Maine, before scandals overtook him—preceded El-Sayed as the movement’s cause célèbre. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from over entry 1 + taken to take

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for overtake

• rattlesnake
• shiitake
• undertake
• wapentake
• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake

Kids Definition

overtake

verb

over·​take ˌō-vər-ˈtāk 

overtook -ˈtu̇k  ; overtaken -ˈtā-kən  ; 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