overtake Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb catch up with and possibly overtake
catch; catch up with.
- The Rolls Royce caught us near the exit ramp
verb travel past
overhaul; pass.
- The sports car passed all the trucks
verb overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
overwhelm; overpower; whelm; overcome; sweep over.

imperfect Overtook ; past participle Overtaken ; present participle & verbal noun Overtaking

To come up with in a course, pursuit, progress, or motion; to catch up with.
Follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say . . . Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good. Gen. xliv. 4.

He had him overtaken in his flight. Spenser.
To come upon from behind; to discover; to surprise; to capture; to overcome.
If a man be overtaken in a fault. Gal. vi. 1

I shall see The winged vengeance overtake such children. Shak.
Hence, figuratively, in the past participle (overtaken), drunken. Obs. Holland.