The verb to overtake · Conjugation
Past Simple of overtake
The answer: overtook
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to overtake is overtook.
Example: The Ferrari overtook the Toyota.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | overtook |
| You | overtook |
| He / She / It | overtook |
| We | overtook |
| You (pl.) | overtook |
| They | overtook |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. The car has overtook us ❌
Overtake follows take → took → taken. After has or have, use overtaken: The car has overtaken us.
2. Overtake for a car in American English ❌
When you drive, British English says overtake and American English says pass: A truck passed us on the highway (US).
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of overtake?+
Overtook. It follows take → took, because overtake = over + take.
What does overtake mean when you drive?+
Overtake means to go past a slower vehicle (mostly UK). In the US, people usually say pass. No overtaking means you must not go past other cars here.
What does overtake mean in other situations?+
It means to become bigger or better than something. Sales have overtaken last year's means sales are now higher than last year.
Why is it not overtaked?+
Because overtake = over + take, and take is irregular. So: overtake → overtook → overtaken.
What does a no overtaking sign mean?+
A No overtaking sign means you must not go past other vehicles on this part of the road. It is part of the UK road rules.
Related pages: overtake Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/overtake/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to overtake are coming soon.