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.
In addition to possibly overtaking Sinners, Weapons, and even Final Destination Bloodlines in terms of lifetime gross at the 2025 box office, Last Rites has a decent shot of clearing each of the other films in the Conjuring universe by the time its theatrical run is through. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025 However, the Red Bull RB21's superior pace meant Norris was soon overtaken by the four-time world champion, who then pulled away and maintained a considerable gap of over five seconds for most of the race. Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025 When the pandemic overtook the world, the Fed was forced to cut interest rates. Vipin Bharathan, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 The introduction of the frothy topping coincided with the rising popularity of iced coffee and other cold drinks, which have overtaken Starbucks' hot beverage orders, no matter the season. Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 2 Sep. 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 9 Sep. 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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