Übertraf

Übertraf is the simple past tense form (Präteritum) of the German verb übertreffen. It means to surpass, outdo, or exceed, and is used to describe a person, team, or element that has performed better than another in comparison or over a past period.

Etymology and grammar: The verb combines prefix über- with treffen, yielding the sense of going beyond. In Präteritum, it is irregular; common forms include ich übertraf and wir übertrafen. The past participle is übertroffen, which is used with the auxiliary haben to form perfect tenses (er hat übertroffen).

Usage: Übertraf appears in narrative or formal writing to report past instances of superiority, such as in sports, business, science, and journalism. Examples: Der Läufer übertraf alle Konkurrenten. Die Aktie übertraf die Erwartungen der Analysten. It is typically contrasted with the present tense übertreffen, which denotes ongoing or future surpassing. See also: übertreffen.