overtake
2 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of OVERTAKE
1
a
[+ object]
:
to move up to and past (someone or something that is in front of you) by moving faster
— often used figuratively
-
The car overtook [=passed] the leader of the race on the turn.
-
She overtook the other runners and went on to win the race.
-
All of the other candidates hope to overtake the front-runner by election day.
-
Obesity may soon overtake smoking as the leading cause of preventable deaths.
-
Frank has overtaken his father in height. [=Frank is now taller than his father]
b
[no object]
British
:
to go past another vehicle that is moving more slowly in the same direction
-
Never overtake [=(US) pass] on a curve.
-
The sign says “No Overtaking.”
2
[+ object]
:
to happen to or affect (someone) in a sudden and unexpected way
-
The pain overtook him.
-
Seasickness can overtake passengers when the ship encounters a storm.
-
Sleep had overtaken them.
-
I could feel the impulse to buy it overtaking [=seizing] me.
overtaken by events
:
forced to be changed because of something that has suddenly and unexpectedly happened
-
The original date for the meeting was overtaken by events and had to be changed.
