Word
ahead
US/əˈhɛd/
UK/ɐhˈɛd/
Adverb of place
Definitions
01physically in front
A2 · Elementary
adv. at or towards the front; in the direction you are moving.
adv. positioned in front of the subject or in the direction of travel.
日本語:前方に、先に※
“The road ahead was blocked by a fallen tree after the storm.”
“The scouts moved cautiously, scanning the dense undergrowth for any sign of the trail that lay somewhere ahead in the mist.”
02in the future
B1 · Intermediate
adv. happening at a later time.
adv. referring to a point in time that has not yet occurred.
“We need to plan for the difficult months ahead.”
“Looking at the decade ahead, economists predict a significant shift toward renewable energy infrastructure across the continent.”
03winning or more advanced
B1 · Intermediate
adv. further advanced or having a better score than someone else.
adv. occupying a superior position in a competition or a more advanced stage of development.
“Our team was two points ahead with only a minute left in the game.”
“The company remains years ahead of its competitors in terms of battery efficiency and manufacturing speed.”
04earlier or in advance
B1 · Intermediate
adv. before a specific time or event happens.
adv. occurring at an earlier time than something else; beforehand.
“If you finish your work ahead of time, you can leave early.”
“The project was completed three weeks ahead of schedule, allowing the marketing team to launch the campaign during the peak holiday season.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'ahead of schedule' or 'ahead of time'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ahead” in context.
Verb
01. go ahead
“You can go ahead and start eating without me.”
verb + adv
02. look ahead
“We need to look ahead and plan for the next five years.”
verb + adv
03. move ahead
“The company decided to move ahead with the new project.”
verb + adv
04. plan ahead
“If you want to get a cheap flight, you should plan ahead.”
verb + adv
05. stay ahead
“She studies every night to stay ahead of the rest of the class.”
verb + adv
Preposition
06. ahead of time
“Please let us know if you are coming ahead of time.”
prep + noun
07. ahead of schedule
“The construction team finished the bridge two weeks ahead of schedule.”
prep + noun
08. straight ahead
“The post office is located straight ahead at the end of the street.”
prep + noun
09. ahead of national
Etymology
From a- + head. Perhaps originally a nautical term, "beyond the head (of a ship)", then drifting into more general English usage where it is used to describe something as being "in front of".
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ahead
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0