overtake
verbnounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//əʊ̯vəːˈteɪ̯k//
- Canada//oʊ̯vɚˈteɪ̯k//
To pass a slower moving object or entity (on the side closest to oncoming traffic).
verb
- 1
To pass a slower moving object or entity (on the side closest to oncoming traffic).
The racehorse overtook the lead pack on the last turn.
The car was so slow we were overtaken by a bus.
"I won't over-walk myself," he said, cheerfully. "If the coach doesn't overtake me on the road, I can wait for it where I stop to breakfast. Dry your eyes, my dear; and give me a kiss."
The station is planned to include platform loops enabling fast trains to overtake slower ones and is expected to be served by at least four trains per hour towards London.
- 2
To become greater than something else in quantity, worth, etc.
Grocery sales in the north have overtaken those in the south.
- 3
To take by surprise; surprise and overcome; carry away.
Our plans were overtaken by events.
VVhy didſt thou promiſe ſuch a beautious day, / And make me trauaile forth vvithout my cloake, / To let bace cloudes ore-take me in my vvay, / Hiding thy brau'ry in their rotten ſmoke.
Etymology
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.
noun
- 1
An act of overtaking; an overtaking maneuver.
There wasn't enough distance left before the bend for an overtake, so I had to trundle behind the tractor for another mile.
Forms
- plural
- overtakes
- past tense
- overtook
- past participle
- overtaken
- present participle
- overtaking
- third person singular
- overtakes
overtake · To pass a slower moving object or entity (on the side closest to oncoming traffic).
overthrow · To bring about the downfall of (a government, etc.),…overtime · Working time outside of one's regular hours.overweight · Having a higher weight, especially body fat, than what is…