OVERTAKE Synonyms: 10 Similar and Opposite Words

overtake

verb

ˌō-vər-ˈtāk

Definition of overtake

as in to catch

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

fall short

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 overtake President Emmanuel Macron has been the primary target of scorn following nationwide riots that overtook Paris and other cities, but the insurgent National Rally does not want to let mainstream conservatives off the hook. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026 Spell-binding Spectacle The Valle family’s Maitland home has been overtaken by a witchy gathering on the front lawn. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026 But these memories were quickly overtaken by the thoughts of her own children in their classrooms. — Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026 Roughly 54% of people taking semaglutide medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy do so to lose weight, overtaking the share of people who use them for other medical reasons, according to EY-Parthenon. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overtake

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtake

Verb

SpaceX's confidence in its ability to catch both the Super Heavy and Ship stages has been building this year, following three launches so far in 2026.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2026
In Minor Black Figures, Taylor casts a sharp gaze on the New York art scene through the eyes of Wyeth, a young Black painter caught in the throes of creative struggle.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of catch

Verb

Rather than chasing fancy titles or splashy paychecks throughout her career, she’s gravitated toward jobs that pushed her out of her comfort zone, forced her to take risks, and taught her to embrace a little chaos.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
At Fox, the viewer is the star, or at least the north star, the thing that everyone is chasing.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of chase

Verb

The Valkyries made history in their inaugural season, becoming the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its debut year.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Opinion polls suggest neither Netanyahu’s bloc, which includes far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, nor the anti-Netanyahu bloc are on track to reach a 61-seat majority.

— Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of reach

Browse Nearby Words

overt

overtake

overtaken

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Overtake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtake. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of overtake

verb

Example Sentences

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