ENGLISH
REFERENCE

overtaken

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈoʊvɝˌteɪkən// UK //ˌəʊvətˈeɪkən// over·tak·en Archaic

v. to catch up with and pass someone or something that is moving in front of you. It can also mean becoming more successful or important than someone else.

v. past participle of 'overtake'; refers to the act of catching up with and passing a person or vehicle traveling in the same direction. Often used figuratively to describe surpassing a competitor in quantity, quality, or status.


SIMPLE

The blue car has overtaken the slow truck.

CONTEXTUAL

By the end of the decade, the small startup had overtaken its largest rival in total market share.

COMPLEX

The cyclist was quickly overtaken by the lead group as they began the steep ascent toward the mountain pass, leaving him struggling to maintain his pace in the thinning air.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object; in the passive voice, it often describes being suddenly affected by a feeling or event.

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