AHEAD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ahead mean? 

• AHEAD (adjective)
  The adjective AHEAD has 1 sense:

1. having the leading position or higher score in a contest

  Familiarity information: AHEAD used as an adjective is very rare.

• AHEAD (adverb)
  The adverb AHEAD has 7 senses:

1. at or in the front

2. toward the future; forward in time

3. in a forward direction

4. ahead of time; in anticipation

5. to a more advanced or advantageous position

6. to a different or a more advanced time (meaning advanced either toward the present or toward the future)

7. leading or ahead in a competition

  Familiarity information: AHEAD used as an adverb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AHEAD (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having the leading position or higher score in a contest

Synonyms:

ahead; in the lead; leading

Context example:

the leading team in the pennant race

Similar:

up (being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level)

• AHEAD (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

At or in the front

Synonyms:

ahead; before; in front

Context example:

with the cross of Jesus marching on before

Sense 2

Meaning:

Toward the future; forward in time

Synonyms:

ahead; forward

Context example:

I look forward to seeing you

Antonym:

back (in or to or toward a past time)

Sense 3

Meaning:

In a forward direction

Synonyms:

ahead; forrader; forward; forwards; onward; onwards

Context example:

they went slowly forward in the mud

Sense 4

Meaning:

Ahead of time; in anticipation

Synonyms:

ahead; beforehand; in advance

Context example:

should have made reservations beforehand

Sense 5

Meaning:

To a more advanced or advantageous position

Context example:

pushing talented students ahead

Sense 6

Meaning:

To a different or a more advanced time (meaning advanced either toward the present or toward the future)

Context example:

pushed the deadline ahead from Tuesday to Wednesday

Sense 7

Meaning:

Leading or ahead in a competition

Synonyms:

ahead; in the lead; out front

Context example:

the advertising campaign put them out front in sales

 Context examples 

But at Ganymede, the relatively slower-moving plasma around Jupiter sculpts the moon's magnetosphere into a long horn-like shape that stretches ahead of the moon in the direction of its orbit.

(Fresh Results from NASA’s Galileo Spacecraft 20 Years On, NASA)

I can go ahead and hammer out the stuff they want, and earn the equivalent of a good salary by it.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Previously we were unsure who would be the major player in this battle, and who would dominate the gravitational battle ahead.

(No Winner in Milky Way-Andromeda Clash, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Marmosets were given the antidepressant 24 hours ahead of the experiment.

(Marmoset study gives insights into loss of pleasure in depression, University of Cambridge)

As a Gemini, few things excite you like the prospect of an upcoming trip, so you will be in your full glory—now and in the weeks ahead.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Researchers say it is important to stay ahead of the resistance to avoid what they are calling a public health catastrophe.

(Malaria-carrying Mosquitoes Becoming Resistant to Bed Nets in Southern Africa, VOA)

During my school-days I had been intimately associated with a lad named Percy Phelps, who was of much the same age as myself, though he was two classes ahead of me.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Ahead of him the river split into many channels to accommodate the freight of islands it carried on its breast.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

In your report, you mention the fact that insurance companies are ahead of everybody since they've excluded from civil responsibility insurance policies illnesses which could be linked to the use of mobile phones.

(Health threats caused by mobile phone radiation, EUROPARL TV)

“Go ahead and cut,” I threatened ominously.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)