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
This prediction bore out around 2020, when China’s warhead stockpiles overtook those of France.
—
Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
On March 19, the 87-degree high overtook the earlier record of 81 set in 2015.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The Tigers choked a double-digit AL Central lead last season but still managed to get to the American League Division Series after defeating the same team who overtook them in the standings in the Cleveland Guardians.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
And with no buffalo for food, unregulated hunting of everything else overtook the rest of the wild game.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Apple overtook Samsung as the world's top smartphone seller in 2024, ending its roughly 12-year run atop the market.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2026
Steph Curry's family film GOAT overtook Wuthering Heights at the weekend's domestic box office.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
In Beijing, Sweden overtook Great Britain for the gold while Canada took bronze.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 21 Feb. 2026
A number of conservative commentators, including Roger Kimball, Peter Wood, and Chris Rufo, maintain that political conformity overtook élite institutions of higher learning and turned every seminar room into some radical struggle session where students dutifully read Karl Marx and bell hooks.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
On March 19, the 87-degree high overtook the earlier record of 81 set in 2015.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The Tigers choked a double-digit AL Central lead last season but still managed to get to the American League Division Series after defeating the same team who overtook them in the standings in the Cleveland Guardians.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
And with no buffalo for food, unregulated hunting of everything else overtook the rest of the wild game.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Apple overtook Samsung as the world's top smartphone seller in 2024, ending its roughly 12-year run atop the market.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2026
Steph Curry's family film GOAT overtook Wuthering Heights at the weekend's domestic box office.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
In Beijing, Sweden overtook Great Britain for the gold while Canada took bronze.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 21 Feb. 2026
A number of conservative commentators, including Roger Kimball, Peter Wood, and Chris Rufo, maintain that political conformity overtook élite institutions of higher learning and turned every seminar room into some radical struggle session where students dutifully read Karl Marx and bell hooks.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtook
Verb
-
Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Heavily hit, the Dannebroge caught fire and then exploded.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Isaiah Evans slipped trying to curl to the rim and Solo Ball scooped up the ball, racing toward the basket, chased by the likely player of the year, Cam Boozer.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Without hesitation, Gunner flew down the stairs to the yard and chased after the bunny.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On Day 1, the astronauts made it safely into Earth's orbit and the mission reached the end of its first major propulsion phase, NASA said.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In 2025, the number of Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies reached 315, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.—
Kayla Steinberg,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overtook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtook. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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