overtaking

verb

present participle of overtake
as in catching
to move fast enough to get even with she had to hurry to overtake her friends, who had forgotten their umbrellas the thunderstorm overtook them suddenly

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of overtaking And with watermelons overtaking the markets right now, there’s no better time to join in. — Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 July 2026 The track offers fewer overtaking opportunities for drivers, while also producing some unexpected results occasionally; the most recent example being Esteban Ocon's win with Alpine in 2021. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 24 July 2026 In reality, this is just the next move, if Congress cannot pass legislation to help curb the current issues overtaking athletics. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026 Counterintuitively, Russia, not Qatar, is second, at around 13%, with Nigeria overtaking the Gulf state for third place. — Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Messi registered his fourth assist in setting up two goals in the semi-final win against England, overtaking Mbappe, who is on three. — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026 Last week, Women’s Aid Ireland reported that eight women have died violently so far this year, already overtaking the whole of 2025. — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 17 July 2026 The sport saw a 60% rise in viewership between 2018 and 2024, while a study by The Economist, released in May, indicated that soccer is now the third-most popular sport in America, overtaking baseball and trailing just football and basketball. — Idaho Statesman, 13 July 2026 Marx, a religious nonprofit leader, has led Kirkmeyer for nearly a week after overtaking the veteran lawmaker the day after polls closed in the June 30 primary. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 7 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtaking
  1. catching
  2. chasing
  3. reaching
Verb
  • According to the American Cancer Society, catching cancer from another person is essentially impossible.
    — Dr. Yonathan Daniel, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • There are countless things to do in the game, from catching Pals to breeding them to building elaborate bases to exploring the world.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of catching
Verb
  • The company has built its reputation not by chasing the highest horsepower figures, but by delivering modest power and clever engineering at attainable prices.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • That injury has long healed — but Carapaz is still seemingly incapable of sitting in his saddle, permanently on his pedals and on the attack, chasing rivals, stages, and the polka-dot jersey.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of chasing
Verb
  • Despite some growing pains, Okot’s minutes have continued to increase, reaching a career-high 22 minutes in the July 11 game against Portland.
    — Micahya Costen, AJC.com, 28 July 2026
  • The Rugby World Cup was 18 months away, and the pressure of turning one of the sport’s sleeping giants into a side capable of reaching the quarter-finals was starting to pinch.
    — Daniel Gallan, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of reaching

Browse Nearby Words

overtakes
overtaking
overtax
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Cite this Entry

“Overtaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtaking. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on overtaking

Nglish: Translation of overtaking for Spanish Speakers

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