Word
overtake
Phoneticsover·take
US/ˈoʊvɝˌteɪk/
UK/ˌəʊvətˈeɪk/
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
overtake
Past
overtook
Past participle
overtaken
Definitions
01to pass a vehicle
B1 · Intermediate
v. to go past a slower vehicle or person moving in the same direction.
v. to catch up with and pass a slower-moving vehicle or entity, typically on the side closest to oncoming traffic.
“The driver waited for a clear road before trying to overtake the slow truck.”
“The cyclist checked his shoulder and signaled before accelerating to overtake the group of pedestrians blocking the narrow lane.”
Antonyms
02to exceed in number or quality
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to become greater, more successful, or more important than something else.
v. to surpass or exceed another in quantity, value, importance, or status.
“Online sales are expected to overtake physical store sales by next year.”
“The small startup managed to overtake its established competitors within three years by focusing exclusively on mobile user experience.”
Antonyms
03to affect suddenly
C1 · Advanced Literary
v. to happen to someone suddenly or unexpectedly, especially a feeling or a bad situation.
v. to come upon or affect someone suddenly and unexpectedly; to overwhelm.
“A sudden feeling of sadness overtook him as he looked at the old photos.”
“The travelers were overtaken by a violent storm before they could reach the safety of the mountain hut.”
04the act of passing
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English
n. the act of driving past another vehicle.
n. the maneuver of passing another vehicle or competitor.
“That was a dangerous overtake on such a sharp corner.”
“The race was decided in the final lap by a daring overtake on the inside of the hairpin turn.”
Synonyms
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. In British English, it is the standard term for passing a vehicle, whereas American English often prefers 'pass'.
Pitfall
He overtook to the car
He overtook the car
Overtake is a transitive verb and does not require a preposition before the object.
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/overtake