ahead

ahead — adverb

1. at a point that is further forward along the direction you are moving or facing.

1.adverbB1
Definition

at a point that is further forward along the direction you are moving or facing.

Example

Eitan saw the river just ahead and slowed his bicycle.

ahead used after a noun to mark a point in front

Walk straight ahead until you reach the red post box.

straight ahead with imperative directions

Common collocations
  • straight ahead
  • just ahead
  • look ahead
  • the road ahead
Synonyms
  • forward

    more about direction of movement; 'ahead' often marks a point in front

  • in front

    stronger spatial sense; 'ahead' adds a feeling of moving toward that point

Antonyms
  • behind

    directly opposite for spatial position

Grammar Patterns

go/walk/look + ahead

ahead of + noun

Usage Note

Often pairs with verbs of motion or perception (go, walk, look, see, point). With 'ahead of + noun', the noun is the reference point you are in front of.

Common Mistakes

Walk ahead from the post office for two blocks.
Walk straight ahead from the post office for two blocks.
directional 'ahead' usually needs 'straight' or a verb of motion to feel natural.

2. with a higher score, more votes, or a stronger result than your rivals at a part

2.adverbB2
Definition

with a higher score, more votes, or a stronger result than your rivals at a particular moment in a game, election, or contest.

Example

Brazil were ahead by two goals at half-time on Saturday.

ahead by + number for score margin

The young challenger is ahead in every opinion poll this week.

ahead in + noun naming the contest

Common collocations
  • go ahead
  • stay ahead
  • ahead by [number]
  • ahead in the polls
Synonyms
  • leading

    very close in meaning; often used as the present participle in match reports

  • in front

    informal; common in football commentary

Antonyms
  • behind

    the losing or trailing side at the moment of speaking

  • level

    scores tied

Grammar Patterns

be + ahead

ahead by + number

ahead in + noun

Usage Note

Frequently follows 'be' or 'go'; the rival, when stated, takes 'of' (ahead of the others). Common in sports reporting and election coverage.

Common Mistakes

Our team is ahead than the others by ten points.
Our team is ahead of the others by ten points.
use 'ahead of', not 'ahead than'.

3. at a higher level of skill, development, or success than other people working in

3.adverbC2
Definition

at a higher level of skill, development, or success than other people working in the same field or doing the same activity.

Example

Omar is two chapters ahead of the rest of his reading group.

[amount] ahead of + group

Small bakeries here are ahead of the city's big chains on sourdough.

Common collocations
  • get ahead
  • stay ahead
  • years ahead
  • ahead in the field
Synonyms
  • advanced

    describes the stage reached; 'ahead' adds the comparison with others

  • in the lead

    more competitive flavour, like sense 2

Antonyms
  • behind

    describes someone who has made less progress

Grammar Patterns

get/be ahead

ahead of + person/group

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about long-term progress (skills, career, technology), not a current scoreline. Often followed by 'of + group' or 'in + field'.

Common Mistakes

She is ahead than her classmates in maths.
She is ahead of her classmates in maths.
'ahead' takes 'of', never 'than'.

4. in baseball, in a stronger position against the batter because the pitcher's str

4.adverb
Definition

in baseball, in a stronger position against the batter because the pitcher's strike total is higher than the ball total during the current at-bat.

Example

Tariq was ahead in the count and decided to throw his hardest fastball.

ahead in the count = pitcher's favour

Once she got ahead of the batter, the rookie pitcher visibly relaxed.

ahead of + batter

Common collocations
  • ahead in the count
  • ahead of the batter
  • stay ahead
  • get ahead 0-2
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be ahead in the count

ahead of + batter

Usage Note

Strict baseball term. Subject is always the pitcher; the reference noun is 'the count' or 'the batter'. Outside baseball broadcasts and articles, this sense will not be understood.

5. at a point in the future, especially when you are thinking about what is coming

5.adverbB1
Definition

at a point in the future, especially when you are thinking about what is coming next in your life or plans.

Example

There are some difficult choices ahead for the new mayor of Taichung.

[noun] + ahead for future events

Dilnoza has a long career ahead of her in classical music.

ahead of + person for life/career time

Common collocations
  • look ahead
  • lie ahead
  • the road ahead
  • the year ahead
Synonyms
  • in the future

    more neutral; 'ahead' suggests something approaching

  • to come

    literary; 'the years to come'

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

lie/wait + ahead

the [noun] ahead

Usage Note

Often used after a noun (challenges ahead, the road ahead) or with verbs of looking, planning, and lying. With a person, use 'ahead of him/her/them' to talk about life still to come.

Common Mistakes

A bright future is ahead her.
A bright future lies ahead of her.
when a person is the reference, use 'ahead of'.

6. at a time earlier than a planned event, deadline, or expected moment, often so t

6.adverbB2
Definition

at a time earlier than a planned event, deadline, or expected moment, often so that you are ready in advance.

Example

The road repairs were finished two weeks ahead of schedule.

ahead of schedule = earlier than planned

Buy your train tickets ahead if you want a window seat to Hualien.

ahead used alone meaning 'in advance'

Common collocations
  • ahead of schedule
  • ahead of time
  • ahead of the deadline
  • well ahead
Synonyms
  • in advance

    very close; 'in advance' is slightly more formal

  • early

    simpler; 'ahead of schedule' is the natural collocation, not 'early of schedule'

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

ahead of + noun (event/time)

ahead of schedule

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 5: this sense compares two specific points in time (something happening earlier than another), while sense 5 simply locates events in the future. Almost always 'ahead of + noun' or fixed phrases like 'ahead of schedule', 'ahead of time'.

Common Mistakes

The team finished the project ahead than the deadline.
The team finished the project ahead of the deadline.
use 'ahead of', not 'ahead than', for time comparisons.
Idioms

go ahead

idiom

to begin or continue doing something, often after asking for or being given permission.

'May I borrow your bicycle?' 'Go ahead — the keys are in the basket.'

The committee voted to go ahead with the new library next spring.

ahead of one's time

idiom

having ideas, designs, or methods that most people only understand or accept many years later.

The architect Tadao Ando was ahead of his time with bare concrete homes.

Her novels about climate refugees were ahead of their time in the 1970s.

full steam ahead

idiom

with the strongest possible effort and no more delay, used to say a project or plan should now move quickly.

Once the funding cleared, it was full steam ahead on the new clinic.

The director told the staff to go full steam ahead with the music festival.

Word family

  • head
    nounA1
  • head
    verbA2
  • header
    nounB2
  • heading
    nounB1
  • forward
    adverbA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words point away from where you stand, but they highlight different things. 'Ahead' marks a point further along the line you are facing or moving (the river just ahead) and is the most natural word for everyday directions. 'Forward' is more about the direction of motion than a fixed point — you lean forward, push the chair forward. 'Onward' is more formal and often figurative, suggesting continued movement after a pause: 'the convoy travelled onward into the desert.' 'In front' simply locates something at the front, with no idea of motion: 'the dog in front of the gate.' So you might say 'walk straight ahead, keep moving forward, and onward to the village in front of the lake.'

aheadforwardonwardin front

Common collocations

Nouns

  • the road ahead
  • the year ahead
  • the days ahead
  • the journey ahead
  • the task ahead

Adverbs

  • straight ahead
  • just ahead
  • well ahead
  • far ahead
  • miles ahead

Phrases

  • look ahead
  • go ahead
  • lie ahead
  • plan ahead
  • think ahead
  • get ahead
  • stay ahead
  • ahead of schedule
  • ahead of time
  • full steam ahead

Prepositions

  • ahead of

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English nautical usegeneral English

Originally a sailing word: 'ahead' comes from English 'a-' (an old preposition meaning 'on' or 'in') joined to 'head', which sailors used for the front of a ship. So 'ahead' first meant 'at or toward the front of the ship.' From the late 1500s it spread to general English for anything in front in space, and then was extended to time (the future ahead) and to comparison (ahead of the others).