# overtook

/ˌoʊvɝˈtʊk/ (US) · /ˌəʊvətˈʊk/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/overtook
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

the past tense of overtake. It means you moved past a slower person or vehicle while traveling in the same direction.

For teachers: the past tense of 'overtake'. Refers to the act of catching up with and passing a person or vehicle traveling in the same direction, or becoming greater in number or importance.

## Examples

- The blue car overtook the slow truck on the highway.
- The runner overtook the leader in the final lap to win the gold medal.
- By the end of the decade, the small startup had overtook its established rivals in market share, signaling a permanent shift in the industry's landscape.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The car has overtook us." but "The car has overtaken us." — Learners often confuse the past tense 'overtook' with the past participle 'overtaken' when using the present perfect.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. As the past tense of 'overtake', it is distinct from the past participle 'overtaken'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.