How to pronounce overtake
Say it like OH-ver-tayk. Overtake has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce overtake. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OH
- ver
- tayk
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Overtake pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- verKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- taykGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of overtake
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: OH-vuh-tayk.
What does overtake mean?
- 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.”
- To become greater than something else in quantity, worth, etc.“Grocery sales in the north have overtaken those in the south.”
- To take by surprise; surprise and overcome; carry away.“Our plans were overtaken by events.”
- 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.”
Where does overtake come from?
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.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying overtake
How do you pronounce overtake?
Say OH-ver-tayk. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊvɚˌteɪk/. In British English it is /ˈəʊvəˌteɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in overtake?
Overtake has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH). Broken into parts: OH · ver · tayk.
Is overtake pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈəʊvəˌteɪk/ (OH-vuh-tayk).