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
Relevance
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
Afterward, Agnes and I were felled by the kind of hunger that overtakes only those who have exerted themselves in cold weather.
—
Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Freezing temperatures have overtaken many parts of the country this winter, prompting people to crank up the heat in their homes.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
The choral elements on the record shine most vividly on the title track, which features polyphonic swells of voices humming melodies, overtaking the piano, dropping and then rising again.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
The competition is making major headway as well, with German automaker Volkswagen officially overtaking Tesla in fully-electric car sales in Europe last year, according to the latest data.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overtake
Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Freezing temperatures have overtaken many parts of the country this winter, prompting people to crank up the heat in their homes.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
The choral elements on the record shine most vividly on the title track, which features polyphonic swells of voices humming melodies, overtaking the piano, dropping and then rising again.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
The competition is making major headway as well, with German automaker Volkswagen officially overtaking Tesla in fully-electric car sales in Europe last year, according to the latest data.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overtake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtake
Verb
-
The Clippers enter the final stretch of the season as the hottest team in the NBA, having won 20 of their past 27 games, a feat that caught many insiders by surprise.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
19 Feb. 2026
-
So, this is about when undeniable attraction catches you off guard, but also the enormous consequences of following that urge and that feeling, and the consequences of that for the families around you, however innocent your intent is.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Aljorna, the affidavit claimed, hit a light pole before fleeing from the car, with an ICE agent chasing him on foot toward the home.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
An immigration officer chased Aljorna who, according to the government, violently resisted arrest.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When a system reaches equilibrium, no further energy can be extracted.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The high is likely to reach the upper 30s in the Boston area.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overtake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtake. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
