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noun

overpass

OH-vuh-pas

Overpass (noun) means a bridge that carries one road or path over another. Example: “Traffic backs up every morning near the highway overpass.”

noun
1
A bridge that carries one road or path over another.
"Traffic backs up every morning near the highway overpass."
verb
1
To go beyond or exceed a limit.
"His ambitions began to overpass what the small firm could offer him."

How to use overpass

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost commonly a road bridge crossing over another road or railway.

UK vs US

American English favours "overpass"; British English typically says "flyover" for the same structure.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
highway overpass pedestrian overpass

Word forms

overpassed past tense, overpasses plural, overpasses singular

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Traffic backs up every morning near the highway _____.

Etymology

Built from over- + pass, ultimately from Latin passus ("step, pace").

Origin: Latin

surpass transgress miss overlook take no notice of fail to notice

Antonyms

Related words

Rhymes for overpass

See all rhymes for overpass →

Frequently asked questions

What does “overpass” mean?

The word “overpass” means a bridge that carries one road or path over another. In plain terms, most commonly a road bridge crossing over another road or railway.

How do you pronounce “overpass”?

“Overpass” is pronounced OH-vuh-pas (/ˈəʊvə(ɹ)pæs/ in IPA).

How do you use “overpass” in a sentence?

Here is “overpass” used in a sentence: “Traffic backs up every morning near the highway overpass.”

What is another word for “overpass”?

Words with a similar meaning to “overpass” include surpass, transgress, miss, overlook, take no notice of and fail to notice.

What is the opposite of “overpass”?

The opposite of “overpass” — its antonyms — are underpass and subway.

What part of speech is “overpass”?

Depending on how it is used, “overpass” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “overpass” come from?

The word “overpass” comes from Latin. Built from over- + pass, ultimately from Latin passus ("step, pace").

How many meanings does “overpass” have?

“Overpass” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a bridge that carries one road or path over another.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial