# overtake

> English word · Verb · IPA /əʊvə(ɹ)ˈteɪk/ · frequency rank #19,653

## Definitions
1. To pass a slower moving object or entity (on the side closest to oncoming traffic).
2. To become greater than something else in quantity, worth, etc.
3. To take by surprise; surprise and overcome; carry away.

## Etymology
From Middle English overtaken, likely a replacement alteration (as the Middle English verb taken replaced nimen (“to take”)), of Middle English overnimen (“to overtake”), from Old English oferniman (“to take by surprise, overtake”), equivalent to over- + take.

## Easily confused with
- **overtime** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overtake-vs-overtime)
- **overture** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overtake-vs-overture)
- **overtaken** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overtake-vs-overtaken)
- **overcame** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overcame-vs-overtake)
- **overstate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/overstate-vs-overtake)

## Common misspellings (11)
`oevrtake`, `overatke`, `overrtake`, `overtaek`, `overtakke`, `overtkae`, `overttake`, `ovetrake`, `ovretake`, `ovvertake`, `voertake`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/overtake