Figure a liar may be out to surpass you! (5)
I believe the answer is:
rival
'figure' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'a liar may be out to surpass you' is the wordplay.
'may be' indicates an anagram.
'out' indicates putting letters inside.
'to surpass you' becomes 'v' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'liar' anagrammed gives 'rial'.
'rial' enclosing 'v' is 'RIVAL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rival that I've seen before include "Someone you hope to defeat" , "Emulate" , "Close competitor" , "Contestant you hope to defeat" , "Be equal to in quality" .)