be overtaken

USAGE SUMMARY

"be overtaken" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a situation in which one thing or event is quickly followed by another. For example, you could say: "He was surprised to be overtaken by a runner who was twice his age."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We moderns are beings yearning to be filled, yearning to be overtaken by love's mysterious power.

The New York Times - Magazine

Will Slashdot be overtaken by Digg?

The Guardian - Tech

Politics could be overtaken by financial deadlines.

The Guardian

To be pulled over or to be overtaken is humiliating.

The New Yorker

Never, ever, stand still, or you will be overtaken.

The Guardian - Sport

But Batra's battle may be overtaken by technology.

The Guardian

Some people just don't like to be overtaken.

The Guardian - Opinion

We will be overtaken by Penrith very soon.

The Guardian

Would the Red Cross be overtaken by bloodless professionalism?

The New York Times - Magazine

The European union has suggested electromagnetic field (EMF) threshold values to not be overtaken.

Physica Medica

Some pundits thought Adobe would be overtaken by a hot startup with sexier software.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be overtaken" to emphasize the action of being surpassed or superseded, rather than the actor performing the overtaking. This passive construction is useful when the object is more important than the subject.

Common error

Avoid using the active voice when the passive construction with "be overtaken" is more appropriate. For example, instead of "The rival company overtook our market share", consider "Our market share was overtaken by the rival company" to highlight the loss.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be overtaken" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject is receiving the action of being surpassed or superseded. Ludwig provides numerous examples showing its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be overtaken" is a grammatically correct and very common passive verb phrase used to describe the act of being surpassed or superseded. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely applicable across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media. When using this phrase, ensure the passive voice construction is appropriate to emphasize the recipient of the action. Be mindful of the slightly different nuances of related terms like "be surpassed" or "be eclipsed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be surpassed

Focuses on exceeding or exceeding a limit, similar to "be overtaken" but with a slightly more formal tone.

be superseded

Indicates that something is replaced, rendered obsolete, or no longer used, similar to "be overtaken" in specific contexts.

be eclipsed

Suggests that something is overshadowed or diminished in importance by something else, offering a more dramatic or figurative alternative.

be outstripped

Conveys that something exceeds or outdoes another, particularly in speed or progress, akin to "be overtaken".

be outdone

Indicates that someone or something performs better than another, reflecting the competitive aspect of "be overtaken".

be left behind

Focuses on the act of failing to keep up with progress

fall behind

Emphasizes the decline in position or status relative to others, a potential precursor to "be overtaken".

be overcome

Refers to the state of being overwhelmed or defeated, representing one potential result of being overtaken.

be defeated

Highlights the loss or failure aspect, in contrast to the surpassing aspect of being overtaken.

lose ground

Focuses on losing advantage or position, a condition that could lead to being overtaken.

FAQs

How can I use "be overtaken" in a sentence?

You can use "be overtaken" to describe situations where something is surpassed or superseded. For example, "The runner was surprised to "be overtaken" by a senior athlete".

What's the difference between "be overtaken" and "be surpassed"?

"Be overtaken" often implies a dynamic process of catching up and passing, while "be surpassed" simply indicates exceeding a limit or achievement without necessarily implying active movement.

What are some synonyms for "be overtaken"?

Alternatives include "be superseded", "be eclipsed", or "be outstripped", each with slightly different nuances.

Is it correct to say 'will be overtake' instead of 'will be overtaken'?

No, "will be overtake" is grammatically incorrect. The correct passive form requires the past participle, so it should be "will "be overtaken"".