overtake Meaning & Definition
What Does Overtake Mean?
As a verb, overtake means to catch up with. It can also mean to catch up with and pass by.
Quick Facts About Overtake
| Part of speech | verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˌō-vər-ˈtāk/ |
| Syllables | 3 |
| Synonyms | pass, overcome and whelm |
| Antonyms | fall short |
| Verb forms | overtakes, overtaking, overtook, overtaken |
Overtake Definition (Verb)
- to catch up with
- to catch up with and pass by
- to come upon suddenly
Synonyms of Overtake
Overtake synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Overtake
Overtake in a Sentence
The racehorse overtook the lead pack on the last turn.
The car was so slow we were overtaken by a bus.
Grocery sales in the north have overtaken those in the south.
Our plans were overtaken by events.
There wasn't enough distance left before the bend for an overtake, so I had to trundle behind the tractor for another mile.
she had to hurry to overtake her friends, who had forgotten their umbrellas
the thunderstorm overtook them suddenly
Word Forms & Grammar
over·took
over·tak·en
over·tak·ing
overtake
overtaken
overtakes
overtaking
overtook
overtake (third-person singular simple present overtakes, present participle overtaking, simple past overtook, past participle overtaken)
overtake (plural overtakes)
Words That Rhyme With Overtake
Origin of Overtake
Origin 1: Middle English, from over:1 + taken to take
Origin 2: 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.
First Known Use
13th century
Overtake Pronunciation
You say overtake as /ˌō-vər-ˈtāk/. It has 3 syllables, with the main stress on the third syllable (tāk).
Common Questions About Overtake
What part of speech is overtake?
Overtake is a verb.
What is another word for overtake?
Words with a similar meaning to overtake include pass, overcome and whelm. See the full list of overtake synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of overtake?
The opposite of overtake is fall short.
What is the past tense of overtake?
The past tense of overtake is overtook and the past participle is overtaken. The present participle is overtaking.