verb
to overtake, to pass
B1
Überholen: means 'to overtake' or 'to pass', e.g. a vehicle or someone in progress. Non‑reflexive, weak regular verb; auxiliary 'haben'. Not separable. Past participle 'überholt'. Commonly used in driving contexts and figuratively to mean 'surpass' or 'catch up with'. Also used in competitions.
Examples
Ich überhole das Auto.
I'm overtaking the car.
Der Lkw fuhr langsam, also wollte das Auto ihn überholen.
The truck was driving slowly, so the car wanted to overtake it.
Das Auto überholte den Lkw, obwohl die Straße kurvig war, weshalb ein Polizist das Fahrzeug später anhielt.
The car overtook the truck, although the road was winding, which is why a policeman later stopped the vehicle.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture a car zooming around another on the highway and a banner reading 'über' as it goes past
sounds like 'over-holland' — imagine a car overtaking so quickly it seems to drive over Holland
Notes
überholen is inseparable (prefix über- stays attached). Commonly used in driving contexts; also used figuratively (to surpass someone).