overtakes

Definition of overtakesnext
present tense third-person singular of overtake
as in catches
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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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 overtakes As regenerative agriculture overtakes traditional organic labels in popularity, Lewkowitz highlighted the unique challenges American growers face. Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 27 Apr. 2026 That way, no plant overtakes another. Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 17 Apr. 2026 If hairy bittercress overtakes your lawn, mow frequently in early spring to remove as many flowers as possible. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026 The convergence of Iowa State fans to Power & Light or the sea of blue that overtakes downtown this week or the plethora of NBA general managers in the front rows offered enough of a reminder that Kansas City didn’t need. Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026 Paranoia overtakes several players who vie for protection. Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2026 When exhaustion overtakes them, something more sinister comes creeping from the shadows. Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026 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 The show overtakes confrontation, less as a strategy than as a compromise no one remembers agreeing to. Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtakes
Verb
  • In Bend, Oregon, Outdoor Adventure Belongs to Everyone On a visit to this adventure magnet, Sophie Morgan goes for a trek in the high desert in an off-roading wheelchair and catches an outdoor concert, washed down, of course, with a few pints of local craft beer.
    Hannah Wallace, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Curtis just didn’t show much as a pass catcher in college (13 catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns in 2025).
    Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In the Ring video, a person dressed in black pants and a gray T-shirt, with a gray sweatshirt draped over his shoulder, chases two dogs down a residential street, spraying them with pellets from what looks like a gel gun.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Or do coaches even matter and everyone just chases the bag?
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But by the time Forrest reaches age 10, when dogs become eligible for Loyal’s pill, those defenses will more often misfire and fail to stop not just cancer but also other life-abbreviating ailments.
    Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
  • Lamont hasn’t argued publicly against the child tax credit but has shown a preference for relief that reaches more households.
    Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Overtakes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtakes. Accessed 7 May. 2026.

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