What is the difference between overtook and passed?

Definitions

overtook

- Describing a situation where one vehicle or person moves ahead of another.

- Referring to a moment when someone surpasses or exceeds another in achievement or success.

- Talking about a situation where someone catches up and moves ahead of another who was previously leading.

passed

- Referring to a situation where one vehicle or person moves ahead of another.

- Describing a moment when someone surpasses or exceeds another in achievement or success.

- Talking about a situation where someone moves beyond or goes by another who is stationary or moving slower.

List of Similarities

• 1. Both words describe a situation where one thing moves ahead of another.
• 2. Both can refer to physical movement, such as vehicles or people.
• 3. Both can be used in a competitive context, such as racing or sports.
• 4. Both can be used in a non-competitive context, such as passing someone on the street.

What is the difference?

• 1. Direction: Overtook implies moving ahead of something that was previously ahead, while passed implies moving beyond or going by something that is stationary or moving slower.
• 2. Speed: Overtook implies a faster speed than the thing being overtaken, while passed can refer to a similar or slightly faster speed.
• 3. Competition: Overtook implies a competitive context where one is trying to outdo or surpass another, while passed can be used in both competitive and non-competitive contexts.
• 4. Achievement: Overtook can imply achieving a higher level of success or accomplishment than the thing being overtaken, while passed can simply imply moving ahead without necessarily surpassing in achievement.
• 5. Usage: Passed is more commonly used in everyday language than overtook.

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Remember this!

Overtook and passed are synonyms that describe a situation where one thing moves ahead of another. However, overtook implies moving ahead of something that was previously ahead, often in a competitive context, while passed implies moving beyond or going by something that is stationary or moving slower, and can be used in both competitive and non-competitive contexts.