overtake

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To pass another vehicle or person moving in the same direction.

   He overtook the slow truck on the motorway.

2. 2
   verb

   To become greater or more successful than something else.

   Online sales have overtaken those in the stores.

3. 3
   verb

   To affect someone suddenly and powerfully.

   A feeling of exhaustion overtook her.

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.

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