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 overtook
While the Japanese investment giant recently overtook Toyota Motor as Japan’s most valuable company, there are market concerns over SoftBank’s high-risk bets on AI, even as its share price has risen about 70% year-to-date on investor enthusiasm over the new technology.
—
Justina Lee, CNBC, 4 June 2026
One of the faster-moving CMEs overtook and absorbed a second CME (hence the cannibal term) and is expected to strike Earth's outer atmosphere Thursday night.
—Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 4 June 2026
The Sox only out-hit their hosts 12-11 – though every member of the lineup contributed at least one hit – and Cleveland overtook their guests in the second and fifth innings before Boston ran away with the game for good.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Taiwan’s stock market just overtook India to become the globe’s fifth largest.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Felix Rosenqvist overtook David Malukas to clinch the victory in the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 25 May 2026
The Briton overtook at the final chicane, and Antonelli nearly hit Russell’s rear under braking, while returning to the racing line.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Budweiser overtook Schlitz that same decade.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 20 May 2026
For the first time in 33 years, SK Hynix overtook Samsung as the world’s largest DRAM maker in Q1 last year, driven almost entirely by its dominance in HBM for AI.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 17 May 2026
Justina Lee, CNBC, 4 June 2026
One of the faster-moving CMEs overtook and absorbed a second CME (hence the cannibal term) and is expected to strike Earth's outer atmosphere Thursday night.
—Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 4 June 2026
The Sox only out-hit their hosts 12-11 – though every member of the lineup contributed at least one hit – and Cleveland overtook their guests in the second and fifth innings before Boston ran away with the game for good.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Taiwan’s stock market just overtook India to become the globe’s fifth largest.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Felix Rosenqvist overtook David Malukas to clinch the victory in the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 25 May 2026
The Briton overtook at the final chicane, and Antonelli nearly hit Russell’s rear under braking, while returning to the racing line.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Budweiser overtook Schlitz that same decade.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 20 May 2026
For the first time in 33 years, SK Hynix overtook Samsung as the world’s largest DRAM maker in Q1 last year, driven almost entirely by its dominance in HBM for AI.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 17 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtook
Verb
-
If caught in a rip current, remain calm.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 June 2026
-
Darryl Brown, a sergeant in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, was caught with the missing items after the photojournalist used a geo-tracking device to trace her missing gear to his home, the state’s attorney general said Thursday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Chow and his son chased the boy out of the store and off the store property, for about 130 yards.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
Then, Rage chased Abdi with his arm extended and Abdi collapsed to the ground, video showed.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Questions about the rumors eventually reached Pixar executives.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
-
Eastside Innovation, the developer trying to bring a billion-dollar, mixed-use development to the site where Indian Springs Mall once stood, has reached an impasse with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK over a key sticking point.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overtook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtook. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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