overtake

overtake — verb

1. to grow larger, higher, or more important than another thing.

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to grow larger, higher, or more important than another thing.

例句

By July, online sales had overtaken store sales in our town.

pattern: one figure overtakes another

In some cities, rent has overtaken wages for young workers.

同義詞
  • surpass

    a broad formal-neutral choice for becoming greater or better

  • exceed

    often used for numbers, limits, or amounts

  • outpace

    often stresses faster growth or change over time

反義詞
  • trail

    to remain lower or less important than another thing

  • fall below

    to be at a lower level than a figure or standard

文法句型

overtake + sales/costs/figures

overtake + something + as + role

用法筆記

Common with numbers, sales, costs, demand, or importance. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about moving past a person or vehicle in physical space.

常見錯誤

❌Online sales overtook than store sales.
✅Online sales overtook store sales.
💡do not use 'than' after 'overtake'.
❌Rent overtook to wages in some cities.
✅Rent overtook wages in some cities.
💡the thing that is passed goes directly after the verb.

2. to pass a person or vehicle after coming up behind them.

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to pass a person or vehicle after coming up behind them.

例句

Our bus overtook a truck just before the bridge.

pattern: overtake + vehicle

Cyclists must not overtake on this narrow mountain road.

intransitive warning use: do not overtake

同義詞
  • pass

    the broad everyday word, but it does not always stress catching up from behind

  • get ahead of

    more informal and focused on the final position

  • pull ahead of

    often suggests creating a clearer lead after passing

反義詞

文法句型

overtake + vehicle/person

do not overtake + place warning

overtake + someone/something + on the left/right

用法筆記

Intransitive use is common in road signs and driving rules, especially with 'do not' or 'no'. Distinguish from sense 1, where one amount or trend becomes greater than another.

常見錯誤

❌Our bus overtook to a truck before the bridge.
✅Our bus overtook a truck before the bridge.
💡'overtake' takes the vehicle or person directly.
❌The car overtook us and in front of us.
✅The car overtook us and moved in front of us.
💡'overtake' already contains the idea of passing ahead.

3. to reach a person or place suddenly and begin affecting them, often in an unplea

3.動詞及物
釋義

to reach a person or place suddenly and begin affecting them, often in an unpleasant way.

例句

Before dawn, a heavy storm overtook the fishing village.

pattern: unpleasant event overtakes a place

On the long train ride home, sadness overtook Marcus without warning.

同義詞
  • befall

    more formal and mostly used for something bad happening to someone

  • hit

    more everyday and often more direct

  • overwhelm

    stronger when emotion or pressure makes normal action difficult

反義詞
  • spare

    to not affect a person or place

  • leave alone

    to not reach or disturb someone or something

文法句型

overtake + person/place

be overtaken by + darkness/debt/panic/storm

用法筆記

Often used with unpleasant things such as storms, darkness, debt, grief, or panic. The passive pattern with 'by' is common when the affected person is the main topic.

常見錯誤

❌Darkness overtook on the hikers.
✅Darkness overtook the hikers.
💡the affected people or place are the direct object.
❌Marcus was overtaken of sadness.
✅Marcus was overtaken by sadness.
💡use 'by' in the passive pattern.