overtaken by events

phrase

: forced to be changed because of something that has suddenly and unexpectedly happened
The original date for the meeting was overtaken by events and had to be changed.

Examples of overtaken by events in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Books on politics, media or technology risk being overtaken by events from the time they’re conceived to the time they’re finished — or even in the months between completion and publication. — Jason Willick, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026 Foster suspects that Denver Water might have been overtaken by events, specifically the premiums the team was willing to pay. — Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2025 This isn’t a sly spy carrying out a covert operation; this is a spy whose careful plans have been overtaken by events. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2025 Instead of attempting to resuscitate the 2005 AU proposal, which has largely been overtaken by events, African nations should go back to the drawing board and begin a new process for reforming the multilateral system. — Tim Murithi, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2023

Rhymes for overtaken by events

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Browse Nearby Words

overtake
overtaken by events
overtalk
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Cite this Entry

“Overtaken by events.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overtaken%20by%20events. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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