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adelantar

ah-deh-lahn-tahr/aðelanˈtaɾ/

to overtake, to pass

Also: to lead
VerbA2regular ar
A blue car driving past a slower red car on a two-lane road.
gerundadelantando
past Participleadelantado
infinitiveadelantar

📝 In Action

No puedes adelantar en esta curva, es muy peligroso.

A2

You cannot overtake on this curve; it is very dangerous.

El corredor keniano adelantó a todos en la última vuelta.

B1

The Kenyan runner passed everyone on the last lap.

Mi coche es lento y todos me adelantan en la autopista.

A2

My car is slow and everyone overtakes me on the highway.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • quedarse atrás (to fall behind)

Common Collocations

  • adelantar por la izquierda – to overtake on the left
  • prohibido adelantar – no overtaking

Idioms & Expressions

  • adelantar por la derecha – To unexpectedly surpass someone who was in a better position.

to bring forward, to move forward

Also: to advance
VerbB1regular ar
A person moving a physical object representing a party closer to the current day on a visual timeline.
gerundadelantando
past Participleadelantado
infinitiveadelantar

📝 In Action

Han adelantado la reunión al lunes.

B1

They have brought the meeting forward to Monday.

En primavera, tenemos que adelantar el reloj una hora.

A2

In spring, we have to move the clock forward one hour.

Hoy he adelantado mucho trabajo de la oficina.

B1

I got a lot of office work done (advanced it) today.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • atrasar (to delay/move back)
  • posponer (to postpone)

Common Collocations

  • adelantar el reloj – to set the clock forward
  • adelantar la fecha – to bring the date forward

to pay in advance, to advance

VerbB2regular ar
A hand handing over a stack of coins to another hand.
gerundadelantando
past Participleadelantado
infinitiveadelantar

📝 In Action

Mi jefe me adelantó el sueldo este mes.

B2

My boss gave me my salary in advance this month.

¿Me puedes adelantar veinte euros? Te los devuelvo mañana.

B1

Can you advance me twenty euros? I'll give them back tomorrow.

Tuvimos que adelantar una señal para reservar el piso.

C1

We had to pay a deposit (advance a sign) to reserve the apartment.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • prepagar (to prepay)

Antonyms

  • adeudar (to owe)

Common Collocations

  • adelantar dinero – to advance money
  • adelantar el pago – to make a payment early

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesadelantaran
yoadelantara
túadelantaras
vosotrosadelantarais
nosotrosadelantáramos
él/ella/ustedadelantara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesadelanten
yoadelante
túadelantes
vosotrosadelantéis
nosotrosadelantemos
él/ella/ustedadelante

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesadelantaron
yoadelanté
túadelantaste
vosotrosadelantasteis
nosotrosadelantamos
él/ella/ustedadelantó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesadelantaban
yoadelantaba
túadelantabas
vosotrosadelantabais
nosotrosadelantábamos
él/ella/ustedadelantaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesadelantan
yoadelanto
túadelantas
vosotrosadelantáis
nosotrosadelantamos
él/ella/ustedadelanta
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: adelantar

Question 1 of 3

If a meeting was scheduled for Friday but is now on Wednesday, what happened?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish word 'adelante' (forward), which was formed by combining the Latin 'ab' (from), 'de' (of), and 'ante' (before).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: adiantar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'adelantar' only for cars?

No, you can adelantar people while walking, runners in a race, or even your classmates in a project by working faster.

What is the difference between 'adelantar' and 'pasar'?

'Pasar' is very general (to pass). 'Adelantar' specifically implies moving from behind to in front of someone or something.

Can it mean 'to improve'?

Not directly, but it can mean to make progress (adelantar camino or adelantar trabajo).