get ahead

British  

verb

1. to be successful; prosper

2. (foll by of) to surpass or excel

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get ahead Idioms  

1. Succeed or make progress, especially in one's career or in society. For example, She put in many hours of overtime in order to get ahead . [c. 1800]

2. Save a little money, as in After we settle the hospital bill, we hope to get ahead enough to buy a new car .

3. get ahead of . Move in front of, as in I got ahead of her in line .

4. get ahead of . Outdo, surpass, as in We were determined to get ahead of the competition . Also see ahead of the game .

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Example Sentences

Here are five historical truths to start applying right now to get ahead.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

“That’ll all hit if … you know, I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” Glatt said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2026

Champagne said the government’s plan remains focused on “making sure the projects that build our nation move forward, and that people have the support they need to get ahead, especially those affected by unjust tariffs.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

What we’re seeing is that more and more people, who are working hard in this state, are not just failing to get ahead, they’re falling further behind.

From Salon • Apr. 27, 2026

“Settle down. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall