as in catching
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 overtaking
In reaching a 37th Test century, Smith became the second-highest Ashes run scorer in history, overtaking Jack Hobbs and leaving ‘only’ Donald Bradman ahead.
—
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
That gave him the rookie record for single-season scrimmage yards with the Raiders, overtaking Josh Jacobs’ total of 1,316 from 2019.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
The country now leads the world in car exports, overtaking Japan.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
Sinners The People’s Champion in the race, facing two huge obstacles in its path to overtaking OBAA.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Eastherry Over The Door Pantry Organizer For large pantries with too many ingredients, an over-the-door organizer is the best way to keep things tidy without overtaking your shelves.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025
The 2025 car’s drag reduction system (DRS) technology is replaced by active aerodynamics technology and a power boost button to use when overtaking.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 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, 6 Dec. 2025
When collective desires for liberation are overtaking our political landscape while creating rhetoric around our very bodies to do it, beauty feels almost archaic as a desire.
—Akilah Sailers, Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
That gave him the rookie record for single-season scrimmage yards with the Raiders, overtaking Josh Jacobs’ total of 1,316 from 2019.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
The country now leads the world in car exports, overtaking Japan.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
Sinners The People’s Champion in the race, facing two huge obstacles in its path to overtaking OBAA.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Eastherry Over The Door Pantry Organizer For large pantries with too many ingredients, an over-the-door organizer is the best way to keep things tidy without overtaking your shelves.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025
The 2025 car’s drag reduction system (DRS) technology is replaced by active aerodynamics technology and a power boost button to use when overtaking.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 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, 6 Dec. 2025
When collective desires for liberation are overtaking our political landscape while creating rhetoric around our very bodies to do it, beauty feels almost archaic as a desire.
—Akilah Sailers, Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtaking
Verb
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Before catching the ball, Siakam set a screen for Andrew Nembhard in a pick-and-roll.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Furthermore, the zeitgeist-catching hockey drama Heated Rivalry will launch exclusively in each market.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Two of the monkeys had applauded the event with hopping and grunts, but the other three had shot like arrows into the trees, chasing after the peculiar bird that had remained indifferent to their antics.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
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Even in an era when AI can write code, Brin cautioned students against chasing—or abandoning—fields of study based solely on automation fears.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The protests have grown drastically in scope over the past week, reaching a point where some analysts believe the regime may have reached a tipping point.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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That commitment to authenticity became especially clear after his video about being cut from the G-League went viral, reaching over 270,000 views.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overtaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtaking. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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