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.
1
To pass a slower moving object or entity (on the side closest to oncoming traffic).
The racehorse overtook the lead pack on the last turn.
The car was so slow we were overtaken by a bus.
2 more examples
"I won't over-walk myself," he said, cheerfully. "If the coach doesn't overtake me on the road, I can wait for it where I stop to breakfast. Dry your eyes, my dear; and give me a kiss."1862, [William] Wilkie Collins, chapter II, in No Name. […], volume II, London: Sampson Low, Son, & Co., […], →OCLC, 4th (Aldborough, Suffolk), pages 176–177:
The station is planned to include platform loops enabling fast trains to overtake slower ones and is expected to be served by at least four trains per hour towards London.2019 October, “Funding for 20tph East London service”, in Modern Railways, page 18:
2
To become greater than something else in quantity, worth, etc.
Grocery sales in the north have overtaken those in the south.
3
To take by surprise; surprise and overcome; carry away.
Our plans were overtaken by events.
VVhy didſt thou promiſe ſuch a beautious day, / And make me trauaile forth vvithout my cloake, / To let bace cloudes ore-take me in my vvay, / Hiding thy brau'ry in their rotten ſmoke.1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 34”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:
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.
1
An act of overtaking; an overtaking maneuver.
There wasn't enough distance left before the bend for an overtake, so I had to trundle behind the tractor for another mile.