ahead of time
76
2.3
- idiom
:
con antelación
- I should have told you ahead of time.
- know ahead of time
- prepare ahead of time
- plan ahead of time
That would mean that God would know ahead of time how things are going to go.
- That would mean that God would know ahead of time how things are going to go.
- And that's who Charlie and Warren have picked ahead of time to run those assets.
- And there are things about our lives that are set up ahead of time, predetermination.
- We sent the PCMECU to you guys ahead of time.
- But I don't want you to know ahead of time where we're going.
- You're freaked out about the fun run two days ahead of time.
- So we have to somehow coordinate our strategies ahead of time and only ahead of time.
- It's nothing I premeditate or decide ahead of time.
Examples
-
The colored ones aren't always in stock, so it's best to order ahead of time.
-
It's important to book your flight ahead of time to get the best prices.
-
That would mean that God would know ahead of time how things are going to go.
-
And I kept going back and I knew ahead of time that it was a bad move.
-
But I will talk to him ahead of time, let him know what to expect.
-
You should have told me ahead of time; it would have saved me the trouble.
Fiction book (1995) -
The pregnancy was actually planned way ahead of time.
-
The details have been worked out ahead of time by the school supervisor or principal.
Academic text (2003) -
Most restaurants will provide menus for the students to read ahead of time in class.
Academic text (1995) -
I think we should rent the barrels ahead of time because what happened last time was a travesty.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Before the usual or expected time
∞
1.0
Before a certain time in order to be ready
278
1.8
Before something happens or someone needs it
100
2.7
Earlier than a planned time or event
30
2.7
Finished before the planned time
1
1.0
Happening before something else in time
Antonyms
How Early
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'earlier than planned' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'ahead' (before/in front) with 'time', with 'of' serving as a simple linking preposition. This is a common, compositional temporal pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Ahead of time creates a picture of being in front of a clock: you are ahead of time, so you arrive 'before' the planned moment. That's why it means 'earlier than planned'.