The term "overtopped" means to rise above or to be higher than something else. It can refer to physical height or metaphorically to surpass in achievement, quality, or degree. In terms of frequency, "overtopped" is more commonly used in written contexts, particularly in descriptive texts related to geography, architecture, or achievements. It is less frequent in everyday oral speech.
The skyscraper overtopped all the other buildings in the city by ten stories.
El rascacielos sobrepasó todos los demás edificios de la ciudad por diez pisos.
Her talent overtopped her peers, making her the leading candidate for the scholarship.
Su talento superó al de sus compañeros, convirtiéndola en la candidata principal para la beca.
The floodwaters overtopped the levees, causing significant damage to the town.
Las aguas de la inundación sobrepasaron los diques, causando daños significativos a la ciudad.
Although "overtopped" itself is not commonly used in many idiomatic expressions, it can be used figuratively in phrases related to surpassing limits or expectations.
He overtopped the expectations set by his coach this season.
Él superó las expectativas establecidas por su entrenador esta temporada.
In a surprising turn, she overtopped her own record in the last race.
En un giro sorprendente, ella superó su propio récord en la última carrera.
The new regulations overtopped previous laws in terms of environmental protection.
Las nuevas regulaciones superaron las leyes anteriores en términos de protección ambiental.
The athlete always finds a way to overtopped the competition.
El atleta siempre encuentra la manera de superar a la competencia.
The word "overtop" is formed by combining the prefix "over," meaning above or on top of, with "top," denoting the highest part or point of something. The origins can be traced back to Middle English, with "over" derived from Old English "ofer" and "top" from the Old English "top," meaning summit or peak.
In summary, "overtopped" signifies surpassing in height or achievement, mostly used in written language and less frequent in speech, with roots in Middle English. The word is often associated with contexts involving comparison, whether physical or metaphorical.