26984 words

ahead

11 definitions • 16 examples
1
in front:

Examples:

The road ahead is very busy.
straight ahead Turn left at the traffic lights, and you'll see the hospital straight ahead.
2
having more points, votes, etc. than someone else in a competition, election, etc.:

Examples:

Barcelona was ahead after ten minutes.
3
making more progress than someone else:

Examples:

way ahead All the children in the class are doing well, but Sophie is way (= far) ahead.
4
In baseball, if the pitcher (= the player who throws the ball) is ahead in the count or ahead of the batter, they have thrown more strikes (= balls inside the hitting area) than balls outside the hitting area:

Examples:

He likes to throw his curveball when he is ahead in the count.
He threw a lot of strikes and consistently got ahead of the opposing hitters.
5
in or into the future:

Examples:

He couldn't bear to think of the lonely year ahead.
6
earlier than or before someone or something:

Examples:

It was already 10 AM in Moscow when the news broke in London that morning, because Moscow is three hours ahead.
7
directly in front:

Examples:

She only had a few things in her shopping cart, so I told her she could go ahead of me in the checkout line.
8
Ahead also means further along in development or achievement:

Examples:

Sophie is way ahead of the rest of her class.
9
in or into the future:

Examples:

We have a lot of hard work ahead of us.
You have to plan ahead when you’re thinking of going to graduate school.
10
at a better, higher, or greater level than before:

Examples:

be ahead by sth First-half figures showed that pre-tax profits were ahead by 8% to £94.8m.
Full-year profits jumped 25% to £106m pre-tax, which was ahead of expectations.
11
more developed, advanced, or able to succeed:

Examples:

keep/get/stay ahead To get ahead in the industry you need the right tools and the right connections.
ahead of sb/sth After showing signs of slowing sales growth, the group cut its prices to stay ahead of its rivals.

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