overtaking

/ˌəʊ.vəˈteɪ.kɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌoʊ.vɚˈteɪ.kɪŋ/ (ame, ipa)

overtaking — verb

  • overtakingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • overtakings3rd person singular
  • overtakinging-ing form
  • overtakingedpast simple

1. to reach a person or vehicle in front of you and then go past them.

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to reach a person or vehicle in front of you and then go past them.

例句

The blue van is overtaking a tractor near the village school.

progressive: be overtaking + vehicle

Near the depot, Niran is overtaking a bus on the right.

pattern: overtake + vehicle + on the right

同義詞
  • pass

    the everyday word, but it does not always stress coming from behind

  • get ahead of

    more informal and focused on the final position

  • pull past

    common in spoken descriptions of traffic or racing

反義詞

文法句型

overtake + vehicle/person

be overtaking + vehicle/person

overtake + someone/something + on the left/right

用法筆記

Common in driving and racing. The object is the person or vehicle being passed, while road signs and safety warnings often use the verb without an object.

常見錯誤

❌Niran is overtaking to a bus on the right.
✅Niran is overtaking a bus on the right.
💡put the vehicle directly after the verb.
❌The van is overtaking in the tractor.
✅The van is overtaking the tractor.
💡do not add an extra preposition before the vehicle.

2. to become greater, higher, or more important than something else.

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to become greater, higher, or more important than something else.

例句

Online orders are overtaking phone orders at our bakery this month.

pattern: one figure overtakes another

By spring, flood damage was overtaking repair costs in the county.

同義詞
  • surpass

    a broad formal-neutral word for becoming greater or better

  • exceed

    often used for limits, amounts, or totals

  • outpace

    often stresses faster growth over time

反義詞
  • trail

    to remain lower than another amount or trend

  • fall below

    to stay under a level or figure

文法句型

overtake + sales/costs/wages

something is overtaking something else

overtake + another thing + in importance

用法筆記

Common with figures, costs, wages, sales, and public concerns. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about physically moving past a person or vehicle.

常見錯誤

❌Online orders are overtaking than phone orders.
✅Online orders are overtaking phone orders.
💡do not use 'than' after the verb.
❌Rent is overtaking to wages in many towns.
✅Rent is overtaking wages in many towns.
💡the thing exceeded comes directly after the verb.

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

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

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

例句

By dusk, darkness was overtaking the hikers on the ridge.

pattern: darkness overtaking a person

As the train stalled, panic was overtaking the passengers in Car 6.

同義詞
  • engulf

    stronger and often suggests being surrounded completely

  • overwhelm

    focuses on strong emotional or practical pressure

  • befall

    more formal and usually used for bad events

反義詞
  • spare

    to not affect someone or somewhere

  • leave alone

    to not reach or disturb a person or place

文法句型

overtake + person/place

be overtaken by + darkness/panic/storm

something is overtaking + person/place

用法筆記

Often used with darkness, panic, grief, sleep, or storms. The passive pattern with 'by' is especially common when the affected person or group is the main topic.

常見錯誤

❌The hikers were overtaken of darkness.
✅The hikers were overtaken by darkness.
💡use 'by' in the passive pattern.
❌Panic was overtaking on the passengers.
✅Panic was overtaking the passengers.
💡the affected people are the direct object in the active pattern.

overtaking — noun