overtakeverb
uk/ˌəʊ.vəˈteɪk/us/ˌoʊ.vɚˈteɪk/overtook, overtakenovertake verb (GO PAST)
C1 [ T ] to go past something by being a greater amount or degree:
Our US sales have now overtaken our sales in Europe.
We'd planned to hold a meeting tomorrow, but events have overtaken us (= things have changed).
B2 [ I or T ] UK US pass to come from behind another vehicle or a person and move in front of them:
Always check your rear view mirror before you overtake (another car).
More examples
- I accelerated to overtake the bus.
- Garcia was gaining on her opponent throughout the race, but only overtook her at the very end.
- A continuous white line in the middle of the road means no overtaking.
- DVDs are overtaking videos in popularity.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Surpassing in quality or number
- beat
- catch
- catch up
- compare
- crown
- eclipse
- exceed
- go one better idiom
- leave sb standing idiom
- north
- outperform
- outran
- outsell
- outshine
- outstrip
- tower
- tower above/over sth
- transcend
- upstage
- writ large idiom
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
On the road: driving & operating road vehicles
overtake verb (HAPPEN)
[ T ] to happen to a person or a place suddenly and unexpectedly:
The family was overtaken by tragedy several years ago, and they still haven't recovered.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Surprising and shocking
- a blinding flash idiom
- a bolt from/out of the blue idiom
- amaze
- amazing
- astonish
- bolt
- breath
- dynamite
- earth-shattering
- expectation
- eye-opener
- faze
- revelation
- spring sth on sb
- staggering
- startle
- startling
- sting
- stunning
- thunderbolt
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