Ahead (Adverb)
Meaning 1
To a different or a more advanced time (meaning advanced either toward the present or toward the future); "moved the appointment ahead from Tuesday to Monday"; "pushed the deadline ahead from Tuesday to Wednesday".
Examples
- They moved the project's deadline ahead by three months to accommodate the change in plan.
- The store is now opening an hour ahead of schedule to serve the large number of early customers.
- To speed up production, they brought the expected completion date ahead from June to May.
- They have moved their trip ahead by two days due to bad weather forecast for the weekend.
- By implementing the new software, they managed to bring their annual target completion date ahead from December to November.
Meaning 2
Toward the future; forward in time; "I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring"; "I look forward to seeing you".
Examples
- We're planning ahead to ensure our business stays successful in the coming years.
- She's always looking ahead to the next challenge and how she can overcome it.
- Looking ahead to her graduation, she's already started applying for jobs.
- He likes to think ahead and anticipate any potential problems that might arise.
- The company is staying ahead of the competition by constantly innovating and improving its products.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Meaning 3
Leading or ahead in a competition; "the horse was three lengths ahead going into the home stretch"; "ahead by two pawns"; "our candidate is in the lead in the polls"; "way out front in the race"; "the advertising campaign put them out front in sales".
Examples
- In the Tour de France, the cyclist was several minutes ahead of his closest competitor as he entered the final stage.
- The basketball team was ahead by five points at halftime and managed to maintain their lead throughout the rest of the game.
- The runner was ahead by two strides as she approached the finish line, securing her first-place finish.
- Prior to the election, the incumbent was ahead in the polls by a substantial margin, but that changed significantly in the last few days.
- Our company is ahead in the bidding process for the major construction project after the other firm withdrew its proposal.
Synonyms
Meaning 4
To a more advanced or advantageous position; "a young man sure to get ahead"; "pushing talented students ahead".
Examples
- She worked diligently to get ahead in her competitive field by taking on extra projects and attending networking events.
- The company's innovative approach helped them stay ahead of their competitors in the rapidly changing market.
- The scholarship was designed to help talented students from underprivileged backgrounds get ahead and achieve their academic goals.
- With her natural charisma and strong work ethic, she was sure to get ahead in the corporate world.
- The new policy aimed to push underrepresented groups ahead by providing them with equal opportunities and resources.
Meaning 5
In a forward direction; "go ahead"; "the train moved ahead slowly"; "the boat lurched ahead"; "moved onward into the forest"; "they went slowly forward in the mud".
Examples
- The team moved ahead with caution in the dark tunnel.
- The car inched ahead in the heavy traffic.
- The boat surged ahead with a powerful burst of speed.
- They trudged ahead slowly through the dense underbrush.
- As the road cleared, the cyclist pedaled ahead with renewed energy.
Synonyms
Meaning 6
At or in the front; "I see the lights of a town ahead"; "the road ahead is foggy"; "staring straight ahead"; "we couldn't see over the heads of the people in front"; "with the cross of Jesus marching on before".
Examples
- Looking out of the plane window, I see the airport lights ahead.
- The captain gazed straight ahead as the storm approached.
- Staring straight ahead, the woman marched on despite the freezing cold.
- We stood at the edge of the hill and gazed out at the breathtaking landscape ahead.
- As I drive down this deserted highway, the long road ahead seems to stretch on forever.
Synonyms
Meaning 7
Ahead of time; in anticipation; "when you pay ahead (or in advance) you receive a discount"; "We like to plan ahead"; "should have made reservations beforehand".
Examples
- She made a reservation at the restaurant ahead of time to ensure they had a table available.
- The company is preparing for the holiday rush ahead, hiring extra staff to meet the increased demand.
- When you pay for your tickets ahead, you receive a 10% discount on the total price.
- We like to plan ahead for our vacations, researching the best places to visit and booking accommodations in advance.
- If you had made reservations beforehand, we wouldn't have had to wait in line for so long.