get ahead
Britishverb
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to be successful; prosper
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(foll by of) to surpass or excel
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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]
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Save a little money, as in After we settle the hospital bill, we hope to get ahead enough to buy a new car .
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get ahead of . Move in front of, as in I got ahead of her in line .
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get ahead of . Outdo, surpass, as in We were determined to get ahead of the competition . Also see ahead of the game .
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.
Despite the setbacks, Modi dominates national politics, and his government has sought to get ahead of the crisis, pledging legal reforms and swift punishment for those involved in exam paper leaks.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
Still, it’s not likely that the utility is going to be able to get ahead of the upgrades that are needed, experts say.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
So instead of taking it personally, take steps to understand your boss’s anxieties and get ahead of them.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
"If fabricated studies make their way into the evidence base, they can mislead real scientists and ultimately slow progress for patients. That's why it's vital we get ahead of this problem."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 16, 2026
“You’re talking about something called composition. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Draw the right line. A little faster.”
From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt
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.
