overtake
AI In plain words
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
overtake
- /əʊ̯vəːˈteɪ̯k/ UK
- /oʊ̯vɚˈteɪ̯k/ Canada, US
- /ˈəʊ̯vəːteɪ̯k/ UK
- /ˈoʊ̯vɚteɪ̯k/ Canada, US
Rhymes with -eɪk
Where it comes from
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.
verb overtakes · overtaking · overtook · overtaken
- 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.
- To become greater than something else in quantity, worth, etc. Grocery sales in the north have overtaken those in the south.
- To take by surprise; surprise and overcome; carry away. Our plans were overtaken by events.
noun overtakes
- 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.
