Not in form, apparently, but surpass the others (8)
I believe the answer is:
outclass
'apparently but surpass the others' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'not in form' is the wordplay.
'not in' becomes 'out' ('out' is the opposite to 'in').
'form' becomes 'class' (synonyms).
'out'+'class'='OUTCLASS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for outclass that I've seen before include "Defeat easily; rank higher" , "put in the shade" , "Top" , "Win easily" , "Be far superior to (someone)" .)