What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
outrun
Example
I can outrun my little brother in a race. [outrun: verb]
Example
The cheetah can outrun any other land animal. [outrun: verb]
Example
She managed to outrun the attacker and get to safety. [outrun: verb]
overtake
Example
The car overtook the truck on the highway. [overtake: verb]
Example
Our team overtook the opponent in the final minutes of the game. [overtake: verb]
Example
I had to run faster to overtake the person in front of me. [overtake: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Overtake is more commonly used than outrun in everyday language. Overtake is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while outrun is less common and refers to a specific type of movement.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between outrun and overtake?
Both outrun and overtake are relatively informal words, but overtake can be used in more formal contexts such as business or politics when referring to surpassing or overtaking a competitor.
