as in caught
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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Recent Examples of overtaken
By the end of Monday Night Football, Maye had overtaken Stafford in the betting markets despite having the lead over the young quarterback in yards and touchdowns.
—
Matt Schooley, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Every year after the holidays, our home is overtaken with boxes.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2026
Oklahoma has overtaken Florida to become the nation's lightning capital, according to a new report.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Work–life balance has overtaken salary as the leading priority for office workers globally, cited by 65% of respondents—up from 59% in 2022.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026
Technology has overtaken the art of teaching.
—Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
The Chinese car giant has overtaken Tesla as the world’s largest seller of EVs, according to 2025 data released by the two rivals this week.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 Jan. 2026
Parents are questioning whether four years and six figures are worth it, especially as campuses are increasingly overtaken by chaos, radical activism, and administrators more concerned with appeasing ideological mobs than educating students.
—Riley Gaines Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Howard’s literature classes, like mine at roughly the same time, had yet to be overtaken by critical theory, but were under the sway of what was called New Criticism.
—Michael Gorra, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Matt Schooley, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Every year after the holidays, our home is overtaken with boxes.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2026
Oklahoma has overtaken Florida to become the nation's lightning capital, according to a new report.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Work–life balance has overtaken salary as the leading priority for office workers globally, cited by 65% of respondents—up from 59% in 2022.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026
Technology has overtaken the art of teaching.
—Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
The Chinese car giant has overtaken Tesla as the world’s largest seller of EVs, according to 2025 data released by the two rivals this week.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 Jan. 2026
Parents are questioning whether four years and six figures are worth it, especially as campuses are increasingly overtaken by chaos, radical activism, and administrators more concerned with appeasing ideological mobs than educating students.
—Riley Gaines Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Howard’s literature classes, like mine at roughly the same time, had yet to be overtaken by critical theory, but were under the sway of what was called New Criticism.
—Michael Gorra, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtaken
Verb
-
Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Boasting over 1,300 five-star ratings, this foldable cushion caught my attention because it can be used for lower back pain, too.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Gonzalez chased her down, punched her several times and then dragged her back to the truck, police said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
5 Jan. 2026
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That’s been the case this season, too, even as Nacua and Davante Adams have chased the NFL lead in receiving yards and touchdowns.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overtaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtaken. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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