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ahead

ahead

690 1.0
In a leading position with a higher score than others
  • adverb
  • /əˈhɛd/
translation icon : por delante
  • She studied hard to stay ahead of her classmates in the competition.
  • get ahead
  • stay one step ahead
  • come out ahead

But in the span of eight years, I'm way ahead even with losses, OK.

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Examples

  • Some states are certainly ahead of the game, but others are lagging behind.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Yet, even the lower score puts Israel ahead of almost two-thirds of the states in the world.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Some companies are way ahead in providing good jobs.

  • How do you stay ahead of market trends?

  • Korea, South Korea at least, is far ahead of many other countries.

  • OK, so so far, I'm ahead by two points, I think.

  • One popular belief is that Russia is ahead of China in political reform.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Their level just seems to be streaks ahead of anybody else in world football.

  • And Zanny had seen to it that they were way ahead in every subject.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • She'll have to admit that I've been one step ahead of her all the way.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

first place
vsahead
343 2.1

The top position in a competition or race

refers to being in a higher position without implying the top rank
one step ahead
vsahead
38 4.0

In a better position because you are ready before others

describes holding a higher position generally, not specifically by preparation
15 4.4

In a better position because you act or prepare earlier than others

expresses holding a higher position without implying earlier action
out front
vsahead
10 3.4

Ahead of others in a race, game, or area of work

is the broader concept of holding a superior position across contexts
in the lead
vsahead
7 3.5

Holding the first position in a game or race

is the general state of holding a higher position without exact rank
foremost
vsahead
5 3.8

At the very front of a group or place

covers being in a higher position or score, not only physical placement
ahead of the pack
vsahead
  • Informal
3 4.4

Being more successful than others in the same group

is the simpler state of holding a higher position without peer comparison
leading
vsahead
3.4

Ahead of others in a game or race

applies broadly to things or people with higher status or progress
streets ahead
vsahead
  • UK
7.4

Much better than others in the same field

means holding a higher position but without the strong superiority sense

Antonyms

243 1.0

In a position with a lower score or later than others

Idioms

76 2.3

Earlier than planned or expected

In a better position because you are ready before others

Finished before the planned time

Having ideas or work more modern than most people of the time

In a better position because you act or prepare earlier than others

Having more knowledge or skill than most others in a field

14 3.4

Directly in front of you

full speed ahead
  • Informal
5 3.7

Go forward very quickly with strong effort

Much more prepared and able to guess what will happen than other people

4 5.6

Much more advanced than others in development and skill

3 4.4

Being more successful than others in the same group

7.4

Much better than others in the same field

Compounds

31 3.4

Official permission to start something

1 4.6

A strong wish to start new projects

How Ahead

leading
3.4
ahead
690 1.0
tied
1.6
behind
243 1.0

Surface Forms

ahead positive

Morphology

ahead = head (semi-transparent) = a + head

The leading-position sense follows naturally from the spatial meaning of being 'in front', but the prefix is archaic rather than productive in modern English.

Etymology

Ahead comes from the parts a- and head, which mean 'in front'. So if a team is ahead in a game it is 'in front' or 'leading', with a higher score than the others.