overtake

2 ENTRIES FOUND:

overtake /ˌoʊvɚˈteɪk/ verb

overtakes; overtook /-ˈtʊk/ ; /ˌoʊvɚˈtʊk/; overtaken /-ˈteɪkən/ ; /ˌoʊvɚˈteɪkən/; overtaking

overtake

/ˌoʊvɚˈteɪk/

verb

overtakes; overtook /-ˈtʊk/ ; /ˌoʊvɚˈtʊk/; overtaken /-ˈteɪkən/ ; /ˌoʊvɚˈteɪkən/; overtaking

Learner's definition of OVERTAKE

a [+ object] : to move up to and past (someone or something that is in front of you) by moving faster赶上；超过

The car overtook [=passed] the leader of the race on the turn.这辆车在转弯处超过了领先的赛车。
She overtook the other runners and went on to win the race.她追上了其他的赛跑者，继而赢得了比赛。

— often used figuratively常用作比喻

All of the other candidates hope to overtake the front-runner by election day.所有其他的候选人都希望在选举日到来之时超过领先者。
Obesity may soon overtake smoking as the leading cause of preventable deaths.肥胖可能很快会取代吸烟成为导致可预防死亡的首要原因。
Frank has overtaken his father in height. [=Frank is now taller than his father]弗兰克个头儿已经超过了父亲。

b [no object] British : to go past another vehicle that is moving more slowly in the same direction超车

[+ object] : to happen to or affect (someone) in a sudden and unexpected way突然侵袭；意外碰上

The pain overtook him.他突然疼痛难忍。
Seasickness can overtake passengers when the ship encounters a storm.轮船遭遇风暴时乘客会感到晕船。
Sleep had overtaken them.他们都睡着了。
I could feel the impulse to buy it overtaking [=seizing] me.我能够感到购买的冲动在支配自己。

overtaken by events

: forced to be changed because of something that has suddenly and unexpectedly happened因突发事件而被迫改变

The original date for the meeting was overtaken by events and had to be changed.原定会议日期因故更改。