overtaken by events

phrase

: 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.

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Cite this Entry

“Overtaken by events.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overtaken%20by%20events. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.

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