⏳ In advance ➡️ Forward position 🥇 In the lead

ahead

∞ 1.0

In front or moving forward to make progress

adverb
/əˈhɛd/

: adelante

I got a couple cars ahead of you.
straight ahead
far ahead
the road ahead

I saw Jim Watson was right ahead of me in the queue.

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Examples

Although we don't face a significant challenge up ahead, the road ahead is long.
I'm going to be looking straight ahead, keeping my eyes open.
And then I look ahead and it's my mom and my dad.
To be able to see straight ahead, cover it up.
where both roads ahead are very difficult.

DoctorRamani
There is activity ahead, OK, we'll look forward to that.
You got a long ride ahead of ya.

Stagecoach (1939)
I saw Jim Watson was right ahead of me in the queue.

The Royal Institution
Two crows flapped out of the trees ahead of him, calling to each other.

Fiction book (1990)
As we drove down the highway, I could see the mountains ahead, gleaming in the sunlight.

Synonyms

in front

vsahead

∞ 1.0

At a place ahead of someone or something

adds a sense of facing or moving rather than only place

in front of

vsahead

∞ 1.0

Ahead of or facing something where people can see it

can also mean motion toward that position rather than location only

forth

vsahead

Literature

∞ 7.4

From a starting point forward in time or place

is mainly about being placed before or moving toward the front

forward

vsahead

568 1.0

In the direction someone faces or moves

can mean being positioned at the front rather than moving

onward

vsahead

65 2.7

Moving forward from a certain time or place

is used more for simple placement or facing rather than progress

forwards

vsahead

30 1.0

Towards the front or a place ahead

is mainly about position rather than motion

out front

vsahead

26 3.4

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

is used more widely for place or movement outside contests

dead ahead

vsahead

15 3.4

Directly in front of you

is broader and can mean general forward placement without precision

onwards

vsahead

2 2.2

From a time or place and continuing forward

focuses more on being at the front than on continuation

frontwards

vsahead

1 5.1

To move toward the front

is often used for simple placement rather than ongoing motion

frontward

vsahead

1 4.7

Toward the front of something

can also describe a static place rather than movement

Antonyms

behind

∞ 1.0

At the back of someone or something

backward

240 1.0

Toward the back of something

Idioms

ahead of time

82 2.3

Earlier than planned or expected

one step ahead

43 4.0

In a better position because you are ready before others

ahead of schedule

34 2.7

Finished before the planned time

ahead of the curve

18 5.6

Having more knowledge or skill than most others in a field

ahead of the game

16 4.4

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

dead ahead

15 3.4

Directly in front of you

full speed ahead

Informal

12 3.7

Go forward very quickly with strong effort

two steps ahead

7 4.3

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

light years ahead

Informal

4 5.6

Much more advanced than others in development and skill

ahead of the pack

Informal

3 4.4

Being more successful than others in the same group

streets ahead

1 7.4

Much better than others in the same field

ahead of one's time

1 7.4

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

Compounds

go-ahead

30 3.4

Official permission to start something

go-ahead

2 4.6

A strong wish to start new projects

How Forward

leading

130 3.4

ahead

∞ 1.0

in front

∞ 1.0

behind

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

ahead positive

Morphology

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

The spatial meaning is fairly clear from 'a' + 'head', though the initial element is an old preposition rather than a modern productive prefix.

Etymology

Ahead comes from the parts a- and head, which mean 'towards the front' or 'in front'. So to move or be ahead is to be 'in front' of others or to go forward.