overtake

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To pass a slower moving object or entity (on the side closest to oncoming traffic).

   The racehorse overtook the lead pack on the last turn.

2. 2
   verb

   To become greater than something else in quantity, worth, etc.

   Grocery sales in the north have overtaken those in the south.

3. 3
   verb

   To take by surprise; surprise and overcome; carry away.

   Our plans were overtaken by events.

4. 4
   noun

   An act of overtaking; an overtaking maneuver.

   There wasn't enough distance left before the bend for an overtake, so I had to trundle behind the tractor for another mile.

5. 5
   verb

   catch up with and possibly overtake

6. 6
   verb

   overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli

7. 7
   verb

   travel past

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.