ahead of time

Idioms

Earlier, sooner, as in The meeting was scheduled for three o'clock, but most people arrived ahead of time. [Early 1900s]

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’s about making small decisions ahead of time that make cooking later feel easier, lighter, more inviting.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

There have been recent rumors, however, that she might consider stepping down ahead of time.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

You can buy tickets online ahead of time for $40 each, or $35 each if you buy four or more.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

The cow was always earmarked to be processed as beef, so Lee said the art collective was employing an extreme way to offer people a chance to change course ahead of time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Doing anything ahead of time would have been viewed as presumptuous.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023