ahead

American  

[uh-hed] / əˈhɛd /

adverb

1. in or to the front; in advance of; before.

   Walk ahead of us.

2. in a forward direction; onward; forward.

   The line of cars moved ahead slowly.

3. into or for the future.

   Plan ahead.

4. so as to register a later time.

   to set the clock ahead.

5. at or to a different time, either earlier or later.

   to push a deadline ahead one day from Tuesday to Monday; to push a deadline ahead one day from Tuesday to Wednesday.

6. onward toward success; to a more advantageous position; upward in station.

   There's a young man who is sure to get ahead.

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idioms

1. ahead of,

   1. in front of; before.

      He ran ahead of me.

   2. superior to; beyond.

      materially ahead of other countries.

   3. in advance of; at an earlier time than.

      We got there ahead of the other guests.

2. be ahead,

   1. to be winning.

      Our team is ahead by two runs.

   2. to be in a position of advantage; be benefiting.

      His score in mathematics is poor, but he's ahead in foreign languages.

ahead British  

/ əˈhɛd /

adjective

1. (postpositive) in front; in advance

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adverb

1. at or in the front; in advance; before

2. onwards; forwards

   go straight ahead

3. 1. in front of; at a further advanced position than

   2. stock exchange in anticipation of

      the share price rose ahead of the annual figures

4. informal to have an advantage; be winning

   to be ahead on points

5. to advance or attain success

ahead More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing ahead

• come out ahead
• dead ahead
• full speed ahead
• get ahead
• go ahead
• one jump ahead
• quit while one's ahead

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Etymology

Origin of ahead

First recorded in 1590–1600; a- ¹ + head

Explanation

When you're ahead, you're further along or further forward. If you're ahead of all the other runners in a race, you're winning. The team at the very front of a three-legged race is ahead, and the path that stretches in front of you as you walk through the woods is ahead of you. As well as signifying being physically first or in front, ahead can be used to talk about time: "She had her whole life ahead of her." The word was first used by sailors, to mean "in a forward direction."

Example Sentences

Four factors could help drive strong economic growth in the months ahead, according to Ohsung Kwon, Wells Fargo’s chief equity strategist.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Instead of texting the bartender, as you might have done 20 years ago, you’re expected to plan ahead enough to book a two-top on Resy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Each year in early April, water managers analyze the snowpack to estimate how much water will flow into rivers in the months ahead.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

D’Amaro begins his tenure as the new chief executive of The Walt Disney Co. as Bob Iger steps into a senior advisory role ahead of his planned retirement in December.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

He was stomping on ahead of us through the snow with Marlene, and there was scarcely a sign of a limp at all.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Related Words

• advanced
• along
• before
• earlier
• forward