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 Now, the nation is aiming to overtake Frontier, having invested $750 million to develop FugakuNEXT. Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025 The Cincinnati Reds made a Cinderella run to the playoffs under legendary manager Terry Francona to overtake the New York Mets for the final playoff spot. Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025 Adebayo is also on his way to overtaking Udonis Haslem as the Heat’s all-time leading rebounder within the next two seasons. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025 The double took his Champions League tally to 52 goals in 50 appearances, overtaking Thierry Henry to draw level with Mohamed Salah in 10th place on the all-time record list. Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overtake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtake
Verb
  • In the skit, a camera catches fans at a game dancing and cuts to the two who dump their popcorns, do the robot and then turn back-to-back and pose.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Will Shipley would be more of the pass-catching value, and Dillon the early-down and goal-line option, not to say both can’t do both things — hence, the hot hand (and hence for the second time).
    Jake Ciely, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • San Rafael, California — Whether battling a wildfire, chasing a suspect, or helping someone with a traumatic injury – the firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and others who take action in emergencies regularly endure high levels of stress.
    Kathleen Toner, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Still, council member Lamont Westmoreland wondered if the danger that technology presented would be less than the danger of chasing vehicles.
    David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • There, she is repeatedly scolded, first by a testy parking attendant (Mark Stolzenberg), and then by a doctor (Bronstein), who warns Linda of consequences if her daughter doesn’t soon reach her target weight of fifty pounds.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Launched from submerged submarines, the M51 can reach altitudes exceeding 2,000 kilometers and re-enters the atmosphere at speeds up to Mach 20, reflecting France’s focus on precision, reliability, and constant readiness in maintaining its 290-warhead nuclear deterrent.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Overtake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtake. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

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