Definition of overtakenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 An evergreen vine that forms a thick blanket of foliage at ground level, English ivy (Hedera helix) will overtake nearby plants including trees. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Feb. 2026 That means the eFX 30 could come with ADAS features like overtaking warnings and blind spot monitoring. New Atlas, 26 Feb. 2026 Apple overtook Samsung as the world's top smartphone seller in 2024, ending its roughly 12-year run atop the market. Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2026 Starfishes can overtake awabi on the sand and turn them upside down. Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overtake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtake
Verb
  • Occy’s Left is one of Asia’s most iconic breaks and offers a chance to catch the perfect left.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2026
  • The idea is to catch reading struggles early on and guide parents on how to help their kids.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • But the work at the day job comes also knowing there will be gold to chase soon enough as coach of USA Basketball men’s senior national team, first in the 2027 World Cup in Qatar and then those 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Maybe somebody is chasing a lot because their body is not in the right position.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • After decades of apathy--which has pushed the nation to a fiscal precipice--some officials are now reaching across the aisle to propose solutions.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Mar. 2026
  • Independent observers reviewing the same footage reached similar conclusions about the location.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Overtake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtake. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

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