superar

to overcome

superar(soo-peh-rahr)

transitive verb

1. (to overtake)

a. to overcome

El equipo superó a sus rivales en el campeonato.

The team overcame their rivals in the championship match.

b. to go beyond

Te prometo que esta película superará todas tus expectativas.

I promise you that this movie will go beyond all your expectations.

2. (to emotionally overcome)

a. to get over

Gabriel superó la muerte de su madre gracias al apoyo de su esposa.

Gabriel got over the death of his mother thanks to his wife's support.

b. to get past

No podía superar por qué lo dejaría por su mejor amigo.

He couldn't get past why she would leave him for his best friend.

3. (to succeed in)

a. to pass

Superé la entrevista y me dieron una oferta que no puedo negar.

I passed the interview and they made me an offer I can't turn down.

superarse

reflexive verb

4. (to improve oneself)

a. to better oneself

Ella lee tres libros por mes para entender cómo superarse.

She reads three books a month to understand how to better herself.

superar

transitive verb

1. (sobrepasar)

a. to beat

queremos superar los resultados del año pasadowe want to improve on o beat last year's results

me superó por dos décimas de segundoshe beat me by two tenths of a second

superar algo/a alguien en algoto beat something/somebody for something

nos superan en númerothey outnumber us

me supera en altura/inteligenciahe's taller/cleverer than me

2. (adelantar)

a. to overtake, to pass

3. (época, técnica)

a.

estar superadoto have been superseded

4. (resolver)

a. to overcome

superar un examento get through an exam

tener algo superadoto have got over something

pronominal verb

5. (mejorar)

a. to better oneself

se supera día a díahe goes from strength to strength

6. (lucirse)

a. to excel oneself

Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited

superar

transitive verb

1 (aventajar) [+contrincante, adversario] to overcome; [+límite] to go beyond; [+récord, marca] to break

fue incapaz de superar al rival he was unable to overcome his rival; pronto superó al resto de los corredores she soon overtook the other runners; las ventas han superado con creces nuestras expectativas sales have far exceeded our expectations

superó 2 veces la marca

las temperaturas han superado los 20 grados temperatures have risen (to) above 20 degrees; superar a algn en algo: superó al adversario en cuatro puntos she beat her opponent by four points; nos superaban en número they outnumbered us; nos supera a todos en inteligencia she's cleverer than all of us

2 (pasar con éxito) [+dificultad] to overcome; [+enfermedad, crisis] to get over

ha tenido que superar muchos obstáculos en su vida she has had to overcome a lot of obstacles in her life; aún no ha superado el divorcio de sus padres he still hasn't got over his parents' divorce

3 [+etapa] to get past

el equipo francés no superó la primera ronda the French team did not get past the first round; ya hemos superado lo peor we're over the worst now

4 [+prueba, examen] to pass

pronominal verb

superarse to excel o.s.

esta tortilla está buenísima, ¡te has superado! this omelette is delicious, you've excelled yourself!; un atleta que siempre intenta superarse an athlete who is always trying to do better