ahead
Americanadverb
-
in or to the front; in advance of; before.
Walk ahead of us.
-
in a forward direction; onward; forward.
The line of cars moved ahead slowly.
-
into or for the future.
Plan ahead.
-
so as to register a later time.
to set the clock ahead.
-
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.
-
onward toward success; to a more advantageous position; upward in station.
There's a young man who is sure to get ahead.
idioms
-
ahead of,
-
in front of; before.
He ran ahead of me.
-
superior to; beyond.
materially ahead of other countries.
-
in advance of; at an earlier time than.
We got there ahead of the other guests.
-
-
be ahead,
-
to be winning.
Our team is ahead by two runs.
-
to be in a position of advantage; be benefiting.
His score in mathematics is poor, but he's ahead in foreign languages.
-
adjective
adverb
-
at or in the front; in advance; before
-
onwards; forwards
go straight ahead
-
-
in front of; at a further advanced position than
-
stock exchange in anticipation of
the share price rose ahead of the annual figures
-
-
informal to have an advantage; be winning
to be ahead on points
-
to advance or attain success
Etymology
Origin of ahead
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It said Friday that the additional plan has already been completed, six months ahead of time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
The company’s chief investment officer, Chance Finucane, explained further about Oxbow’s caution looking ahead to 2027, in a separate interview with David Lin.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
That said, Cinemark reportedly installed Imax 70mm projectors at three of its theaters ahead of “The Odyssey’s” release, and there are 11 more theaters projecting “The Odyssey” in Imax 70mm than there were for “Oppenheimer.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
Tuchel has also been criticised for his defensive substitutions, with England having only 12% of possession from going ahead to conceding the second goal after 92 minutes.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
She steps off the grounds of Carville and looks to her life ahead.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
