Overtaken Meaning in English
word · lemma: overtake
Definition
Passed by someone or something going faster or becoming more successful. Can be used for vehicles on the road or for surpassing someone in achievement or amount.
Usage & Nuances
Used in passive form ('was overtaken'). Common when talking about cars in traffic, or when one person/company surpasses another in performance, growth, or numbers. Often appears with 'by' (was overtaken by...). Not used for simple physical passing by on foot.
Example Sentences
She was overtaken by a faster runner.
basic
Our company has been overtaken by a competitor.
basic
The car was overtaken on the highway.
basic
I was deep in thought when I realized I’d been overtaken by three cyclists.
natural
When the market changed, they were quickly overtaken by newer technology.
natural
We were overtaken by a dense fog halfway through our drive.
natural