overtake

Meaning

Verb

1. To pass a slower moving object or entity (on the side closest to oncoming traffic).
2. (transitive) To become greater than something else in quantity, worth, etc.
3. To take by surprise; surprise and overcome; carry away.

Noun

An act of overtaking; an overtaking maneuver.

Synonyms

catch up

pass

surpass

catch up with

catch

outstrip

overhaul

pass by

catch up to

reach

outdistance

chase

pursue

run after

go ahead

go around

outrun

overwhelm

pass up

whelm

outdo

leave behind

befall

happen

outreach

come up to

come upon

anticipate

get ahead of

overcome

get ahead

catch up with and surpass

sweep over

overpower

move forward

advance

hunt

hurt

inspect

keep up with

later

lead

leapfrog

master

meet

omit

outgrow

outpace

outperform

precede

proceed

race

roll in

rush in

short-circuit

strike

succeed

surprise

take over

tide over

transcend

unplug

win

worthy

attain to

be in time

catch at

go before

move ahead

run past

walk abreast

keep abreast of

wave off

go on ahead

achieve

take short cut

affect

afflict

afterwards

arrive

arrive at

assume

astonish

blindside

boggle

brush aside

brush off

burst upon

bypass

climb over

come up

defeat

deserve

dominate

draw out

emulate

equal

exceed

excel

extend to

extract

fall upon

find

🔍

follow

full

future

get around

get by

go

go beyond

go past

Translations

dépasser

überholen

inhalen

adelantar

doubler

rattraper

alcanzar

devancer

passer

surpasser

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əʊvə(ɹ)ˈteɪk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: overtaken

In summary

From Middle English overtaken, likely a replacement alteration (as the Middle English verb taken replaced nimen (“to take”)), of Middle English overnimen (“to overtake”), from Old English oferniman (“to take by surprise, overtake”), equivalent to over- + take.

Sentences

Do not overtake unless it is safe to do so .