Word
overtaking
Phoneticsover·tak·ing
US/ˈoʊvɝˌteɪkɪŋ/
UK/ˌəʊvətˈeɪkɪŋ/
Definition
n. the act of passing another vehicle that is moving more slowly in the same direction.
n. the act of catching up with and passing a vehicle or person moving in the same direction. Often used in the context of road safety and traffic regulations.
Examples
“Dangerous overtaking is a common cause of road accidents.”
“The driver waited for a long straight section of the road before attempting any overtaking.”
“The highway code strictly prohibits overtaking on the left in most circumstances to prevent collisions caused by blind spots and unexpected lane changes.”
Examples
simple
“Dangerous overtaking is a common cause of road accidents.”
contextual
“The driver waited for a long straight section of the road before attempting any overtaking.”
complex
“The highway code strictly prohibits overtaking on the left in most circumstances to prevent collisions caused by blind spots and unexpected lane changes.”
Usage
Often functions as a gerund noun; frequently appears in compound forms like 'overtaking lane'.
Real-World Examples
“Brazil's exports were diverted to Europe, with Germany overtaking the US as the biggest importer of Brazilian beans over the course of 2025, cushioning Europe's coffee drinkers to a degree.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/overtaking