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Definition ahead in British English

ahead adverb

adverb
/əˈhed/

Ahead is used in the following ways:

as an adverb: I could see the end of the tunnel ahead.

in the preposition phrase ahead of: We have some difficult problems ahead of us.

1

used for saying that something is in front of you, in the direction you are going or looking

1.1

used for saying that something is in front of you, in the direction you are going or looking

Example

There's a motel just a few miles ahead.

Example

His attention was firmly fixed on the road ahead.

Example

The car ahead of us stopped suddenly.

Example

We're nearly there! That's the place up ahead.

Synonyms and related words
1.2

moving, pointing, or looking towards a place in front of you

Example

Francesca was staring ahead into the darkness.

Example

Instead of turning left, he drove straight ahead towards the river.

Synonyms and related words
1.3

moving in front of someone and in the same direction

Example

She walked ahead of him along the corridor.

Synonyms and related words
2

used when saying what will happen in the future

Example

We have a busy day ahead of us.

Example

a young woman with a brilliant career ahead of her

Example

Where will the money come from in the years ahead?

Example

New technology points the way ahead for our steel industry.

Synonyms and related words
3

before a time or event

3.1

before a time or event

Example

The event had been planned six months ahead.

Example

If you had warned me ahead of time, I wouldn't have gone.

Example

There will be an inspection of the track ahead of tomorrow's race.

Synonyms and related words
3.2

starting to go somewhere a little before someone and arriving there before them

Example

You go on ahead and tell them we're coming.

Example

I'll send my luggage on ahead.

Synonyms and related words
3.3

used for saying how much earlier the clocks in one place show a particular time than in another

Example

Moscow is three hours ahead of London.

Synonyms and related words
3.4

used for saying that someone finishes a race before someone else

Example

David finished ahead of me in last year's race.

Synonyms and related words
4

used for saying that someone has made more progress than someone else, or more progress than expected

4.1

used for saying that someone has made more progress than someone else, or more progress than expected

Example

Some of these children are two years ahead in reading skills.

Example

The Russians were now ahead of them in space research.

Synonyms and related words
4.2

used for saying that a particular idea, product, invention etc is more advanced than others

Example

The technology was far ahead of anything available in the West.

Example

As a writer, Sterne was ahead of his time.

Synonyms and related words
5

used for saying that someone is achieving more success in a competition, election etc than someone else

Example

Labour are ahead in the opinion polls.

Example

The Eagles are already ten points ahead of their nearest rivals.

Example

At the end of Round 8, Tyson was well ahead on points.

Synonyms and related words
6

to act prematurely or overconfidently

Example

John was getting ahead of himself by thinking what winning the competition would mean to him.

Definition ahead in British English