overtake competitors

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overtake competitors" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about a business or organization that is in competition with other businesses or organizations and it is surpassing them in some way. For example, "Tesla has managed to overtake its competitors in electric car production and sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Mr. Gates, he said, has been a "fast follower" who has been able to repeatedly change Microsoft's strategy to rapidly pursue and then overtake competitors with new technologies.

The New York Times - Tech

Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas, the Acme Oyster reigning queen with 47 dozen in eight minutes, was concerned that the short form contest of five minutes, would not allow her to overtake competitors down the stretch, when her "economy of motion" technique (four oysters to a fork, a dozen downed in roughly 12 seconds) would propel her to victory.

Huffington Post

In addition, as methanol assimilation is a highly specific capability for this yeast, not seen in most species, it could be the case that optimal growth is not required to overtake competitors in an already favorable environment.

BMC Systems Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Easily overtaking competitors, "Classes and Cultures" is sure to establish itself as the commanding study of its subject over the years of its concern.

The Economist

Knight raced down one-lane country roads at 110km/h and compulsively overtook competitors.

Forbes

Knight raced down one-lane country roads at 70mph and compulsively overtook competitors.

Forbes

A report by research firm Canalys released on Tuesday said that Apple had overtaken competitors to become China's number one seller of smartphones by units shipped in the fourth quarter of 2014.

BBC

Ten months after its debut, Amazon (AMZN, Fortune 500) has overtaken competitors like Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500) and RealNetworks' (RNWK) Rhapsody to become the second biggest online store after iTunes, according to market research firm NPD.

Huffington Post

Uber has handily overtaken competitors in the U.S. like Lyft and Sidecar, forcing some rivals to join forces in hopes that, by creating alliances, they can become formidable challengers to the industry juggernaut.

Huffington Post

Huawei's system, he believes, fosters a longer-term view that has helped it overtake listed competitors.

The Economist

Since construction mogul Florentino Perez assumed the club presidency three years ago his ambition has been to match and then overtake all competitors on and off the pitch.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overtake competitors", ensure you clearly define the metric or area in which the overtaking occurs (e.g., market share, innovation, customer satisfaction).

Common error

Avoid using "overtake competitors" without specifying how the overtaking is measured. Be specific (e.g., "overtake competitors in renewable energy patents", not just "overtake competitors").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overtake competitors" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of surpassing or exceeding rivals in a competitive environment. It often serves to describe strategic goals or achievements within business or sports contexts. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through its examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overtake competitors" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that describes the act of surpassing rivals in a competitive scenario. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it appears most often in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts. When using the phrase, clarity is key, specifically by indicating in what area the overtaking happens. Alternative phrases like "surpass rivals" and "outpace competitors" offer nuanced ways to express the same idea. Be mindful to define the metrics behind the action. The phrase can be found in authoritative sources, including The New York Times and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surpass rivals

Focuses on exceeding rivals in a general sense.

outpace competitors

Emphasizes the speed and rate of exceeding competitors.

exceed competitors

Similar to surpass, but highlights a higher degree of achievement.

eclipse rivals

Suggests overshadowing and diminishing the importance of competitors.

outstrip competitors

Highlights exceeding limits or boundaries set by competitors.

outdo rivals

Suggests performing better than rivals in a specific area.

leave competitors behind

Emphasizes distancing oneself from competitors.

gain ground on competitors

Implies reducing the distance or advantage held by competitors.

close the gap with competitors

Implies reducing the distance with competitors.

move ahead of competitors

Focuses on advancing beyond competitors in a progressive manner.

FAQs

How can I use "overtake competitors" in a sentence?

You can use "overtake competitors" to describe a business or individual surpassing their rivals, such as: "Our new marketing strategy helped us "overtake competitors" in the online retail market."

What are some alternatives to "overtake competitors"?

Alternatives include "surpass rivals", "outpace competitors", or "exceed competitors", each with slightly different nuances.

Is it better to say "overtake competitors" or "surpass competitors"?

Both "overtake competitors" and "surpass competitors" are correct, but "overtake" implies a more dynamic process of catching up and moving ahead, while "surpass" simply means exceeding or being better than.

What's the difference between "overtake competitors" and "outperform competitors"?

"Overtake competitors" suggests surpassing them in a race or specific metric. "Outperform competitors" implies consistently doing better, encompassing various aspects of performance.