Adelantar vs. rebasar vs. superar
In Spanish, the words 'adelantar', 'rebasar' and 'superar' may all be translated as 'to overtake' or 'to pass' when referring to vehicles. However, they have subtly different connotations and are used in slightly different contexts.
Adelantar
This term is primarily used to refer to overtaking or passing another vehicle on the road. It also can mean moving something forward in time.
Voy a adelantar a ese camión porque va muy despacio.
(I'm going to overtake that truck because it's going very slowly.)
El piloto adelantó a sus competidores en la última vuelta.
(The pilot overtook his competitors on the last lap.)
Adelantaron la reunión para el martes.
(They moved forward the meeting to Tuesday.)
Rebasar
It has similar meaning to overtake or exceed a limit. It is often used in more formal or technical contexts such as legal terms.
El corredor rebasó al líder en la última milla de la carrera.
(The runner overtook the leader in the last mile of the race.)
El coche azul rebasó la velocidad permitida.
(The blue car exceeded the speed limit.)
Rebasó la línea amarilla, por lo tanto, fue penalizado.
(He crossed over the yellow line, therefore, he was penalized.)
Superar
'Superar' is used more broadly denote overcoming an obstacle, defeating an opponent, or exceeding a previous achievement. Its use extends beyond driving context into personal accomplishments or challenges.
Finalmente pude superar mi miedo a conducir en la autopista.
(I finally managed to overcome my fear of driving on the freeway.)
Para superar al camión, tuvimos que aumentar nuestra velocidad.
(To overtake the truck, we had to increase our speed.)
Con mucho esfuerzo y determinación, superó su propio récord personal.
(With much effort and determination, she surpassed her own personal record.)
Summary
'Adelantar' is generally used to denote overtaking another vehicle on the street and can also refer to moving something forward in time; 'rebasar' has a similar meaning but tends to be used in more formal situations, including legal texts; 'superar' offers a broader range of applications beyond overtaking, including overcoming obstacles and surpassing previous achievements.