godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Physical act of passing a moving vehicle, person, or animal from behind. Often used in traffic contexts.
See also: 追い抜く
遅い車を追い越すときは、安全を確認してください。
When passing a slow car, please check for safety.
彼は前を走るランナーを次々と追い越した。
He overtook the runners ahead one after another.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
surpass; outstrip; get ahead of
Abstract or competitive sense: exceeding someone in ability, rank, sales, etc. Often used when one entity moves ahead of another in a measurable way.
See also: 追い抜く
彼は努力して先輩を追い越し、部長になった。
He worked hard, surpassed his seniors, and became department head.
この新製品は売上で競合他社を追い越した。
This new product outstripped competitors in sales.