Overtake vs Pass

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Overtake

Top 2,000 (common)

Pass

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

Most common: Pass

	Overtake	Pass
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //əʊvəˈteɪk// 🇺🇸 //oʊvərˈteɪk//	🇬🇧 /["/pɑːs/","/ˈpɑːsɪz/","/pɑːst/","/ˈpɑːsɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/pæs/","/ˈpæsɪz/","/pæst/","/ˈpæsɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	To go past someone or something moving in the same direction.	To move past something or someone, or to allow something to happen.
Example	The race car managed to overtake its competitors on the final lap.	I will pass the ball to you during the game.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	-	A2
Part of speech		verb
Collocations	overtake someone, overtake a vehicle, safely overtake, overtake in traffic, overtake on the highway	quickly, rapidly, soon, help (to), quickly, rapidly, soon, help (to), unanimously, overwhelmingly, narrowly, by… to…, peacefully, come to, let something, between, pass unnoticed
Antonyms	-	stop, hold, block
Common mistakes	Confusing with 'take over' which means to gain control of something., Using intransitively; 'overtake' requires an object., Misusing 'overtake' when referring to processes instead of physical movements.	Confusing 'pass' with 'past' in writing., Using 'pass' without an object when it requires one., Mixing up the different meanings of 'pass' in verbal contexts.
Usage notes	Commonly used in driving contexts; can also refer to surpassing someone in achievements. Avoid using in very formal situations.	Commonly used in both casual and formal contexts. Can refer to physical movement or to allowing someone to take a turn (e.g., in games). Not typically used in very formal writing when describing decisions.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

And then the pass of Cirith Ungol.

Band Of Brothers › S1 E1

Your weekend pass is cancelled.

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

We must take the Pass of Caradhras.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

And then the pass of Cirith Ungol.

Band Of Brothers › S1 E1

Your weekend pass is cancelled.

Pass

Frequently asked questions: Overtake vs Pass

What's the difference between Overtake and Pass?

Overtake: To go past someone or something moving in the same direction. Pass: To move past something or someone, or to allow something to happen.

Which is more common: Overtake and Pass?

Pass is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Overtake: The race car managed to overtake its competitors on the final lap. Pass: I will pass the ball to you during the game.

Can I use Overtake and Pass interchangeably?

Not always. Overtake and Pass are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.