Definitions
- Describing a situation where one person or thing passes another while moving in the same direction. - Referring to a moment when someone or something becomes more successful or advanced than another. - Talking about a time when something or someone catches up to and surpasses another in a competition or race.
- Referring to a situation where someone or something exceeds or goes beyond another in quality, quantity, or achievement. - Describing a moment when someone or something becomes superior or more advanced than another. - Talking about a time when something or someone outdoes or outperforms another in a competition or challenge.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a situation where one thing or person becomes superior to another.
- 2Both words can be used to talk about a competition or race.
- 3Both words are verbs that describe an action.
What is the difference?
- 1Direction: Overtook implies movement in the same direction, while surpassed does not have this connotation.
- 2Speed: Overtook suggests a faster pace than surpassed.
- 3Competition: Overtook is often used in the context of a race or competition, while surpassed can refer to any situation where one thing or person becomes superior to another.
- 4Timing: Overtook implies that the overtaking happened before the surpassing, while surpassed does not have this temporal connotation.
- 5Connotation: Overtook can have a negative connotation, suggesting a sudden or unexpected change in position, while surpassed is generally positive, implying improvement or excellence.
Remember this!
While both overtook and surpassed describe a situation where one thing or person becomes superior to another, they differ in their connotations, direction, speed, and timing. Overtook suggests a sudden change in position in a race or competition, while surpassed implies improvement or excellence in any context. Overtook implies movement in the same direction and a faster pace, while surpassed does not have these connotations.
