atropelar

Senses

1. 1.

   to run over, to hit (with a vehicle)

   to strike a person or animal with a moving vehicle

2. 2.

   to trample, to run over

   to step on or crush someone or something, often in a crowd

3. 3.

   to disregard, to violate

   to ignore or bypass rules, rights, or procedures (figurative)

Examples

• "O motorista atropelou um pedestre na faixa de pedestres."

  The driver ran over a pedestrian in the crosswalk.

• "Não podemos atropelar os direitos dos cidadãos."

  We cannot trample on citizens' rights.

• "Ele foi atropelado por um carro quando atravessava a rua."

  He was hit by a car when he was crossing the street.

Usage

Common in traffic contexts and news reports. The figurative sense (disregarding rules/rights) is frequent in political and legal discourse. Often used in the passive voice: "ser atropelado/a." Colloquial: "atropelar a fala de alguém" means to interrupt someone abruptly.