OVERTAKEN Synonyms: 10 Similar and Opposite Words

overtaken

verb

past participle of overtake

as in caught

to move fast enough to get even with she had to hurry to overtake her friends, who had forgotten their umbrellas the thunderstorm overtook them suddenly

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fallen short

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of overtaken At the same time, chained up in the back of a van, an uncharacteristic fatalism has overtaken Reacher. — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 The clearest sign of the change came in 2024, when a study recorded Americans choosing cannabis over alcohol for daily consumption, marking the first time in history that cannabis has overtaken alcohol as the preferred daily substance. — Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Popular media and Southern folklore frequently claimed that kudzu was swallowing 150,000 new acres every year and had overtaken anywhere from 7 to 9 million acres across the region. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2026 The pace of improvement in AI models has led many observers to predict that human intelligence may soon be overtaken by the cognitive capacity of machines. — George C. Lee Ii, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 In 2020, the Pentagon assessed that China had overtaken the United States to become the world’s largest navy by number of battle-force ships. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2026 McCutcheon’s third goal of the season — Orlando’s earliest goal of 2026 — came courtesy of Barbra Banda, who had been leading the league in goals until being overtaken by Ashley Sanchez of North Carolina. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026 The immersive doc captures the duality of an extreme lifestyle with the euphoric highs of intercepting a tornado to the terrifying lows of being overtaken by one inside their vehicle as Timmer pushes his mind and body to the limit. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026 She was overtaken from her place in line by her younger brother upon his birth on July 20, 1973. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 20 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overtaken

Verb

Summit caught the turnover bug as the Jaguars lost to Red Oak 20-15.

— Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026
As a result, Japan finds itself in a precarious position, caught between a lack of locals to fill roles in the workforce and a distrust of immigrants who can provide labor.

— Christine Miyawaki, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of caught

Verb

The Brewers regained a two-run lead in the sixth on David Hamilton’s RBI single that chased Bradford, who gave up nine hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
The Dodgers loaded the bases again in the eighth but came up empty when Muncy chased a splitter out of the strike zone on the ninth-pitch of his at-bat against reliever Didier Fuentes.

— Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of chased

Browse Nearby Words

overtake

overtaken

overtakes

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Style

“Overtaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overtaken. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of overtaken

verb

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