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ahead

[uh-hed]
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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.
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.

Origin of ahead

First recorded in 1590–1600; a-1 + head
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for ahead

ahead

adjective
  1. (postpositive) in front; in advance
adverb
  1. at or in the front; in advance; before
  2. onwards; forwardsgo straight ahead
  3. ahead of
    1. in front of; at a further advanced position than
    2. stock exchangein anticipation ofthe share price rose ahead of the annual figures
  4. be ahead informal to have an advantage; be winningto be ahead on points
  5. get ahead to advance or attain success
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ahead

adv.

1620s, "at the head, in front," from a- "on" (see a- (1)) + head (n.). Originally nautical. To be ahead of (one's) time attested by 1837.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with ahead

ahead

In addition to the idioms beginning with ahead

also see:

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.