Word of the Day.

overtake  /ˌoʊvɚˈteɪk/   verb

Inflected forms: overtakes; overtook /-ˈtʊk/; overtaken /-ˈteɪkən/; overtaking

1 a [with object] : to move up to and past (someone or something that is in front of you) by moving faster

• The car overtook [=passed] the leader of the race on the turn.

• She overtook the other runners and went on to win the race.

Note: This sense of overtake is often used figuratively.

• All of the other candidates hope to overtake the front-runner by election day.

• Obesity may soon overtake smoking as the leading cause of preventable deaths.

• Frank has overtaken his father in height. [=Frank is now taller than his father]

1 b [no object] British : to go past another vehicle that is moving more slowly in the same direction

• Never overtake [=(US) pass] on a curve.

• The sign says “No Overtaking.”

2 [with object] : to happen to or affect (someone) in a sudden and unexpected way

• The pain overtook him.

• Seasickness can overtake passengers when the ship encounters a storm.

• Sleep had overtaken them.

• I could feel the impulse to buy it overtaking [=seizing] me.

Idiom:

overtaken by events

: 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.