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
Relevance
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
The look is evolving a bit for 2026, though; mid- and low-rise cuts are overtaking their high-rise counterparts, lending the spring a relaxed, lived-in air.
—
Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 27 Jan. 2026
First, concerns about data leaks linked to GenAI jumped to 34% of leadership priorities—overtaking adversarial AI fears at 29%.
—Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
According to witnesses, the minibus carrying the children was reportedly overtaking other stationary vehicles when the head-on collision occurred, per the news agency.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
The only thing faster than a bullet train is the zombie infection overtaking its passengers.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
The same law says any driver is allowed to flash lights to indicate the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 15 Jan. 2026
With low-top sneakers also overtaking high-tops in casual settings, the Shaqnosis Low offers a new level of lifestyle wearability for the retro model.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026
There was a conversation about someone overtaking him for Rookie of the Year, especially Knueppel or Edgecombe.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
YouTube has continued to upend the natural order of UK television by overtaking the BBC on a key measurement of audience reach, according to an analysis by Deadline.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 27 Jan. 2026
First, concerns about data leaks linked to GenAI jumped to 34% of leadership priorities—overtaking adversarial AI fears at 29%.
—Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
According to witnesses, the minibus carrying the children was reportedly overtaking other stationary vehicles when the head-on collision occurred, per the news agency.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
The only thing faster than a bullet train is the zombie infection overtaking its passengers.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
The same law says any driver is allowed to flash lights to indicate the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 15 Jan. 2026
With low-top sneakers also overtaking high-tops in casual settings, the Shaqnosis Low offers a new level of lifestyle wearability for the retro model.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026
There was a conversation about someone overtaking him for Rookie of the Year, especially Knueppel or Edgecombe.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
YouTube has continued to upend the natural order of UK television by overtaking the BBC on a key measurement of audience reach, according to an analysis by Deadline.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtaking
Verb
-
Many eventually settled in North Beach, or Little Italy, and wound up catching salmon in the summer and crab in the winter.—
Becky Duffett,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Laferriere tied the score just over two minutes later by taking Perry’s pass from behind the net and catching Hofer off the left post.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Color design is increasingly moving from trend-chasing choices to intentional restraint.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
You’re being called to lead, build and commit to a long-term vision, rather than just chasing the next spark of inspiration.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The protests have grown drastically in scope over the past week, reaching a point where some analysts believe the regime may have reached a tipping point.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
-
That commitment to authenticity became especially clear after his video about being cut from the G-League went viral, reaching over 270,000 views.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overtaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtaking. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
