go-ahead

1 of 2

adjective

ˈgō-ə-ˌhed 

1

: marked by energy and enterprise : progressive

a vigorous go-ahead company

2

: indicating that one may proceed

go-ahead signal

3

: being a score that gives a team the lead in a game

drove in the go-ahead run

go-ahead

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: energy, spirit

b

: one possessing go-ahead

2

: a sign, signal, or authority to proceed : green light

Synonyms

Noun

• powerhouse

Examples of go-ahead in a Sentence

Noun

a born go-ahead, he was determined to be the first in his family to graduate from college

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The pair each blasted ninth-inning home runs, the former a game-tying solo shot and the latter a go-ahead, three-run blast, as the Minnesota Twins completed a stunning comeback to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 in front of 42,235 at Rogers Centre on a record-setting dollar hot dog night. —Dan Hayes, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025

San Marcos coach Tom Carroll shunned a tying kick, going for a go-ahead 2-point PAT. —John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025

Noun

Earlier in the game, Andrew Johnson hit a 35-yard field goal for the Wildcats and only a few more yards would be needed to get in line for a possible go-ahead score. —Cody Thorn, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025

Another team highlight, in one of the A’s most exciting wins of the season, came when Langeliers hit a go-ahead grand slam off reigning American League Cy Young Award Winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers. —Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for go-ahead

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• gingerbread
• hammerhead
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead