ahead

adverb or adjective

ə-ˈhed 

1

a

: in a forward direction or position : forward

b

: in front

2

: in, into, or for the future

plan ahead

3

: in or toward a more advantageous position

helped others to get ahead

4

: at or to an earlier time : in advance

make payments ahead

5

a

: in or into a leading position in a race or competition

a politician who is running ahead in most polls

Josh Carter scored from a yard out and the Pride added a two-point conversion to surge ahead 14-7.

—Cumberland (Maryland) Times-News

b baseball

(1)

of a pitcher : in or into the situation of having thrown more strikes than balls to a batter

Home run threat Mark Reynolds was up next with the bases loaded, but Colon quickly got ahead 1-2 in the count and struck the third baseman out swinging with a … fastball.

—Ray Monell

(2)

of a batter : in or into the situation of having a count of more balls than strikes

Albert Pujols got ahead 3-1 and then lined one into the seats in left for his 20th home run of the year and second of the series.

—John Fay

Synonyms

• afore [chiefly dialect]
• already
• antecedently
• anteriorly
• before
• beforehand
• earlier
• formerly
• preliminarily
• previously

Examples of ahead in a Sentence

call ahead for reservations

sent me ahead to get a place in the check-out line while she went to get the eggs and milk

the line moved ahead at a snail's pace

Recent Examples on the Web

The only drama is whether Fried goes ahead and signs before Burnes, or lets Burnes set the bar. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024

The Fed is now in a blackout period ahead for commentary of its policy-setting meeting, but investors will get one final piece of insight into their decision-making with key inflation data set to be released this week. —Sarah Min, CNBC, 8 Dec. 2024

The Netflix spy thriller ends with a big bang (or three) Comments Warning: Black Doves season 1 spoilers ahead! —Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024

This will ensure your spice rack is properly stocked for the cooking season ahead. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ahead

• ahead of
• ahead of one's/its time
• ahead of one's time
• ahead of schedule
• ahead of the curve
• ahead of the game
• ahead of time
• a/one step ahead of
• are/keep/stay one jump ahead
• dead ahead
• full steam/speed ahead
• get ahead
• given the go-ahead
• go-ahead
• go ahead with (something)
• going full speed ahead
• lie ahead
• light-years ahead
• look ahead
• move ahead/along
• plow ahead
• pull ahead
• received/got the go-ahead
• stay/keep ahead of the field
• straight-ahead
• streets ahead of
• the go-ahead
• think ahead

Kids Definition

ahead

adverb or adjective

ə-ˈhed 

1

: in or toward the front

the road ahead

go ahead

2

: in, into, or for the future

think ahead

3

: in or toward a better position

came out $20 ahead on the deal

4

: at or to an earlier time : in advance

make payments ahead