# get ahead

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/get-ahead
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to be more successful than other people, especially in your job or career.

For teachers: to make progress or achieve success in a competitive environment, particularly in professional or financial contexts.

## Examples

- She works hard because she wants to get ahead.
- Learning a second language is a great way to get ahead in the international business world.
- In an increasingly saturated job market, young professionals often feel pressured to work overtime just to get ahead of their peers.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He wants to get ahead his colleagues." but "He wants to get ahead of his colleagues." — when comparing yourself to others, you must use the preposition 'of' after the phrase.

## Usage notes

- often used with 'in' to specify the field or 'of' to specify the competition.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'get by' (to survive/manage) to show how 'get ahead' implies moving forward and winning rather than just maintaining.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.