overtake: Meaning and Definition of

o•ver•take

Pronunciation: (ō"vur-tāk'), [key]
— v., -took, -tak•en, -tak•ing.
—v.t.
  1. to catch up with in traveling or pursuit; draw even with: By taking a cab to the next town, we managed to overtake and board the train.
  2. to catch up with and pass, as in a race; move by: He overtook the leader three laps from the finish.
  3. to move ahead of in achievement, production, score, etc.; surpass: to overtake all other countries in steel production.
  4. to happen to or befall someone suddenly or unexpectedly, as night, a storm, or death: The pounding rainstorm overtook them just outside the city.
—v.i.
  1. to pass another vehicle: Never overtake on a curve.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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