ahead

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.

Idioms

7. 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.
8. 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.

adjective

1. (postpositive) in front; in advance

adverb

2. at or in the front; in advance; before
3. onwards; forwardsgo straight ahead
4. ahead of
   1. in front of; at a further advanced position than
   2. stock exchangein anticipation ofthe share price rose ahead of the annual figures
5. be ahead informal to have an advantage; be winningto be ahead on points
6. get ahead to advance or attain success

adv.

1620s, “at the head, in front,” from a- “on” (see a- (1)) + head (n.). Originally nautical. To be ahead of (one’s) time attested by 1837.

In addition to the idioms beginning with ahead

• ahead of one’s time
• ahead of the game
• ahead of time

also see:

• come out ahead
• dead ahead
• full speed ahead
• get ahead
• go ahead
• one jump ahead
• quit while one’s ahead