overpass

[ noun oh-ver-pas, -pahs; verb oh-ver-pas, -pahs ]

noun

1. a road, pedestrian walkway, railroad, bridge, etc., crossing over some barrier, as another road or walkway.

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·passed or o·ver·past, o·ver·pass·ing.

1. to pass over or traverse (a region, space, etc.):

   We had overpassed the frontier during the night.

2. to pass beyond (specified limits, bounds, etc.); exceed; overstep; transgress:

   to overpass the bounds of good judgment.

3. to get over (obstacles, difficulties, etc.); surmount:

   to overpass the early days of privation and uncertainty.

4. to go beyond, exceed, or surpass:

   Greed had somehow overpassed humanitarianism.

5. to pass through (time, experiences, etc.):

   to overpass one's apprenticeship.

6. to overlook; ignore; disregard; omit:

   We could hardly overpass such grievous faults. The board overpassed him when promotions were awarded.

verb (used without object)

, o·ver·passed or o·ver·past, o·ver·pass·ing.

1. to pass over; pass by:

   Under the bridge there was the din of cars overpassing.

overpass

noun

1. another name for flyover

verb

1. to pass over, through, or across
2. to exceed
3. to get over
4. to ignore

Word History and Origins

Origin of overpass¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; over-, pass

Example Sentences

A California Department of Motor Vehicles report said during a May 13 test, a Waymo on the eastbound 10 Freeway near the Bundy Drive overpass was involved in a moderate crash.

From Los Angeles Times

After the riots in 1992, what was considered a proper canvas for the street artist expanded beyond the city’s buses, freeway overpasses, and walls of the L.A. river and local businesses.

From Los Angeles Times

Every 60 miles or so, I saw a Border Patrol vehicle stationed underneath a freeway overpass.

From Los Angeles Times

Video footage from the scene showed flames engulfing the bus as it burned under an overpass, huge clouds of dense black smoke billowing into the sky.

From BBC

According to local media, shots may have been fired from a wooded area near to the highway, or from an overpass.

From BBC

Related Words

• footbridge
• viaduct
• walkway