ahead

[ uh-hed ]

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.

ahead

/ əˈhɛd /

adjective

1. postpositive in front; in advance

adverb

1. at or in the front; in advance; before
2. onwards; forwards

   go straight ahead

3. ahead of
   ahead of
   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. be ahead informal.
   be ahead to have an advantage; be winning

   to be ahead on points

5. get ahead
   get ahead to advance or attain success

Word History and Origins

Origin of ahead¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.

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

Example Sentences

Having spent her career behind the scenes, she acknowledges fear about what is ahead for her.

From Washington Post

It’s right in that vicinity either before or just shortly after, which is years ahead of schedule.

From Washington Post

McCarthy has made clear his concerns that it would only backfire by giving vulnerable Democrats a chance to separate themselves from Pelosi just ahead of an election where she’s unpopular in some of the GOP-leaning districts they represent.

From Washington Post

She said in an interview that she would be skeptical of any vaccine produced ahead of the election because of worries its release was due to political pressure.

From Washington Post

To solve this problem, Insider has been ramping up its first-party data platform Sága ahead of the full decimation of third-party cookies.

From Digiday

In secret, before the referendum, the council went ahead and fluoridated the water anyway.

From The Daily Beast

Bush busy engaging constituents on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate ahead of the 2004 presidential election.

From The Daily Beast

They let us get ahead of the outfit, then the rest of the guys came in.

From The Daily Beast

Everything was moving ahead smoothly, and continued to for the rest of the year.

From The Daily Beast

But in the days ahead he, his brother, and the others will be back in the street while their families worry at home.

From The Daily Beast

Suddenly, however, he became aware of a small black spot far ahead in the very middle of the unencumbered track.

From Project Gutenberg

The thought seemed to produce the dreaded object, for next moment a large hummock appeared right ahead.

From Project Gutenberg

But there was no shadow ahead of him this night; there was no somber thing to bend down the high serenity of his happy heart.

From Project Gutenberg

Neither of us spoke again, and at length the squat log buildings of Pend d' Oreille loomed ahead of us in the night.

From Project Gutenberg

I've been sailing one way for ever so long, because I don't know how to turn around; but there's a landing-place just ahead.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• advanced
• along
• before
• earlier
• forward