ahead
♦ ahead of2 (ahead of) PREPOSITION USES
Please look at category 6 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 [PREP-PHRASE]
If someone is ahead of you, they are directly in front of you. If someone is moving ahead of you, they are in front of you and moving in the same direction.
I saw a man in a blue jacket thirty metres ahead of me...
She walked ahead of Helene up the steps into the hotel.
2 [PREP-PHRASE] PREP pron
If an event or period of time lies ahead of you, it is going to happen or take place soon or in the future.
I tried to think about all the problems that were ahead of me tomorrow...
She spent all night thinking about the future that lay ahead of her...
We have a very busy day ahead of us today.
= before
3 [PREP-PHRASE] oft n PREP n
In a competition, if a person or team does something ahead of someone else, they do it before the second person or team.
Millar finished 1 minute and 35 seconds ahead of Thierry Claveyrolat.
4 [PREP-PHRASE]
If something happens ahead of schedule or ahead of time, it happens earlier than was planned.
This dish may be prepared a day ahead of time and refrigerated.
≠ behind
5 [PREP-PHRASE]
If someone is ahead of someone else, they have made more progress and are more advanced in what they are doing.
Henry generally stayed ahead of the others in the academic subjects.
6
one step ahead of someone or something: see step
ahead of your time: see time♦♦ ahead1 /əh'ed/ (ahead) ADVERB USES
In addition to the uses shown below, ahead is used in phrasal verbs such as `get ahead', `go ahead', and `press ahead'.
1 [ADV] ADV after v, n ADV, ADV with cl
Something that is ahead is in front of you. If you look ahead, you look directly in front of you.
Brett looked straight ahead...
I peered ahead through the front screen...
The road ahead was now blocked solid...
Ahead, he saw the side railings of First Bridge over Crooked Brook.
≠ behind
2 [ADV] ADV after v
You use ahead with verbs such as `push', `move', and `forge' to indicate that a plan, scheme, or organization is making fast progress.
We are moving ahead with plans to send financial aid...
= forward
3 [ADV] be ADV, ADV after v, oft amount ADV
If you are ahead in your work or achievements, you have made more progress than you expected to and are performing well.
First half profits have charged ahead from £127.6m to £134.2m...
Children in small classes are several months ahead in reading.
4 [ADV] be ADV, ADV after v, oft amount ADV
If a person or a team is ahead in a competition, they are winning.
Scotland were ahead in their European championship qualifier in Iceland...
A goal would have put Dublin 6-1 ahead.
5 [ADV] v-link ADV, ADV after v, n ADV
Ahead also means in the future.
A much bigger battle is ahead for the president...
Now I can remember without mourning, and begin to look ahead...
6 [ADV] ADV after v
If you prepare or plan something ahead, you do it some time before a future event so that everything is ready for that event to take place.
The government wants figures that help it to plan ahead...
Summer weddings need to be arranged months ahead.
7 [ADV] ADV after v
If you go ahead, or if you go on ahead, you go in front of someone who is going to the same place so that you arrive there some time before they do.
I went ahead and waited with Sean...forge ahead
[PHRASAL VERB] V P with n, V P
If you forge ahead with something, you continue with it and make a lot of progress with it.
He again pledged to forge ahead with his plans for reform...
The two companies forged ahead, innovating and expanding.get ahead
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you want to get ahead, you want to be successful in your career.
He wanted safety, security, a home, and a chance to get ahead.
= get ongo ahead
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P with n
If someone goes ahead with something, they begin to do it or make it, especially after planning, promising, or asking permission to do it.
The district board will vote today on whether to go ahead with the plan.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If a process or an organized event goes ahead, it takes place or is carried out.
The event will go ahead as planned in Sheffield next summer.look ahead
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you look ahead, you think about what is going to happen in the future and perhaps make plans for the future.
I'm trying to look ahead at what might happen and be ready to handle it.power ahead
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P
If an economy or company powers ahead, it becomes stronger and more successful.
The most widely held view is the market will continue to power ahead...
It all leaves the way clear for Tesco to power ahead.press ahead
see press on 1push ahead
or push forward
[PHRASAL VERB] V P with n
If you push ahead or push forward with something, you make progress with it.
The government intends to push ahead with its reform programme.steam ahead
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If an economy or company steams ahead, it becomes stronger and more successful.
The latest figures show industrial production steaming ahead at an 8.8 per cent annual rate.
Please look at category 6 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 [PREP-PHRASE]
If someone is ahead of you, they are directly in front of you. If someone is moving ahead of you, they are in front of you and moving in the same direction.
I saw a man in a blue jacket thirty metres ahead of me...
She walked ahead of Helene up the steps into the hotel.
2 [PREP-PHRASE] PREP pron
If an event or period of time lies ahead of you, it is going to happen or take place soon or in the future.
I tried to think about all the problems that were ahead of me tomorrow...
She spent all night thinking about the future that lay ahead of her...
We have a very busy day ahead of us today.
= before
3 [PREP-PHRASE] oft n PREP n
In a competition, if a person or team does something ahead of someone else, they do it before the second person or team.
Millar finished 1 minute and 35 seconds ahead of Thierry Claveyrolat.
4 [PREP-PHRASE]
If something happens ahead of schedule or ahead of time, it happens earlier than was planned.
This dish may be prepared a day ahead of time and refrigerated.
≠ behind
5 [PREP-PHRASE]
If someone is ahead of someone else, they have made more progress and are more advanced in what they are doing.
Henry generally stayed ahead of the others in the academic subjects.
6
one step ahead of someone or something: see step
ahead of your time: see time♦♦ ahead1 /əh'ed/ (ahead) ADVERB USES
In addition to the uses shown below, ahead is used in phrasal verbs such as `get ahead', `go ahead', and `press ahead'.
1 [ADV] ADV after v, n ADV, ADV with cl
Something that is ahead is in front of you. If you look ahead, you look directly in front of you.
Brett looked straight ahead...
I peered ahead through the front screen...
The road ahead was now blocked solid...
Ahead, he saw the side railings of First Bridge over Crooked Brook.
≠ behind
2 [ADV] ADV after v
You use ahead with verbs such as `push', `move', and `forge' to indicate that a plan, scheme, or organization is making fast progress.
We are moving ahead with plans to send financial aid...
= forward
3 [ADV] be ADV, ADV after v, oft amount ADV
If you are ahead in your work or achievements, you have made more progress than you expected to and are performing well.
First half profits have charged ahead from £127.6m to £134.2m...
Children in small classes are several months ahead in reading.
4 [ADV] be ADV, ADV after v, oft amount ADV
If a person or a team is ahead in a competition, they are winning.
Scotland were ahead in their European championship qualifier in Iceland...
A goal would have put Dublin 6-1 ahead.
5 [ADV] v-link ADV, ADV after v, n ADV
Ahead also means in the future.
A much bigger battle is ahead for the president...
Now I can remember without mourning, and begin to look ahead...
6 [ADV] ADV after v
If you prepare or plan something ahead, you do it some time before a future event so that everything is ready for that event to take place.
The government wants figures that help it to plan ahead...
Summer weddings need to be arranged months ahead.
7 [ADV] ADV after v
If you go ahead, or if you go on ahead, you go in front of someone who is going to the same place so that you arrive there some time before they do.
I went ahead and waited with Sean...forge ahead
[PHRASAL VERB] V P with n, V P
If you forge ahead with something, you continue with it and make a lot of progress with it.
He again pledged to forge ahead with his plans for reform...
The two companies forged ahead, innovating and expanding.get ahead
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you want to get ahead, you want to be successful in your career.
He wanted safety, security, a home, and a chance to get ahead.
= get ongo ahead
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P with n
If someone goes ahead with something, they begin to do it or make it, especially after planning, promising, or asking permission to do it.
The district board will vote today on whether to go ahead with the plan.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If a process or an organized event goes ahead, it takes place or is carried out.
The event will go ahead as planned in Sheffield next summer.look ahead
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you look ahead, you think about what is going to happen in the future and perhaps make plans for the future.
I'm trying to look ahead at what might happen and be ready to handle it.power ahead
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P
If an economy or company powers ahead, it becomes stronger and more successful.
The most widely held view is the market will continue to power ahead...
It all leaves the way clear for Tesco to power ahead.press ahead
see press on 1push ahead
or push forward
[PHRASAL VERB] V P with n
If you push ahead or push forward with something, you make progress with it.
The government intends to push ahead with its reform programme.steam ahead
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If an economy or company steams ahead, it becomes stronger and more successful.
The latest figures show industrial production steaming ahead at an 8.8 per cent annual rate.