Excellent if not fast way to surpass others (5)
I believe the answer is:
excel
'way to surpass others' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'excellent if not fast' is the wordplay.
'if not' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'fast' becomes 'lent' (Lent is a period of fasting in Christianity).
'excellent' with 'lent' taken out is 'EXCEL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for excel that I've seen before include "Predominate in" , "Do really well, outshine others" , "Be exceptionally good (at something)" , "Perform exceptionally well" , "Be outstandingly proficient" .)