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

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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 What To Know The crash happened just after midnight, as the drivers of the two buses, traveling in opposite directions, were both trying to overtake other vehicles. Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 Far too many school boards are being overtaken by far-right extremists determined to distort our public education system and target LGBTQ+ youth. Chris Ward, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2025 Plummeting Indian student arrivals Last year, India sent more students to the US than any other country, overtaking the number of Chinese students for the first time in 15 years with more than 330,000 Indian nationals enrolled at American universities. Ivan Watson, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025 However, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression warns against campus protesters overtaking speakers' ability to express their views. Cate Charron, IndyStar, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overtake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtake
Verb
  • The final was 28-7, as Rashee Rice caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to add to the lead.
    Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
  • With Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel both out, the 10th-year NFL veteran caught all four of his targets for 36 yards — trailing only Jaylin Lane, Chris Moore and Zach Ertz in receiving for Washington.
    Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Jays capitalized on the Dodgers’ weak middle relief after chasing starter Blake Snell in the sixth inning to bust open a massive lead.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • At Longy, while classmates entered competitions and chased prestigious symphony positions, Wasefi spoke of returning to Afghanistan’s provinces to teach music.
    Vidushi Mishti Sharma, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The city has reached 85% of its total water treatment capacity now, Hall said.
    Penny Weaver, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2025
  • But any agreement reached will be just one touchstone in a thorny and volatile great power rivalry between the world’s superpower democracy and an authoritarian China, whose growing military assertiveness under Xi in the East and South China Seas is rattling US allies in the region.
    Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Overtake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtake. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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