overtake
To pass a slower moving object or entity (on the side closest to oncoming traffic).
Example
“The racehorse overtook the lead pack on the last turn.”
Other meanings
To become greater than something else in quantity, worth, etc.
“Grocery sales in the north have overtaken those in the south.”
To take by surprise; surprise and overcome; carry away.
“Our plans were overtaken by events.”
Related words
- overtakable
- overtakeless
- overtaker
- reovertake
Word history
From Old English "oferniman" (to take by surprise, overtake).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “overtake” on Wiktionary, by its contributors, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.