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ENGLISH THESAURUS & DICTIONARY

ahead

adjective · adverb

Words like ahead

Compare the definitions to choose the right meaning.

14 words · adjective, adverbSort by

forward

Synonymadverb

in the lead

Synonymadjective / adverb

Synonymadverb

Synonymadverb

Synonymadverb

Synonymadverb

Synonymadverb

Synonymadverb

Synonymadjective

Synonymadverb

Synonymadverb

Synonymadverb

Similar meaningadjective

back

Opposite meaningadverb

Related words aren’t always interchangeable. Check the definition before you choose.

MEANING & USAGE

Definitions & examples

01adjective

having the leading position or higher score in a contest

“he is ahead by a pawn”

“the leading team in the pennant race”

02adverb

at or in the front

“I see the lights of a town ahead”

“the road ahead is foggy”

03adverb

toward the future; forward in time

“I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring”

“I look forward to seeing you”

04adverb

in a forward direction

“go ahead”

“the train moved ahead slowly”

4 more meanings

05adverb

ahead of time; in anticipation

“when you pay ahead (or in advance) you receive a discount”

“We like to plan ahead”

06adverb

to a more advanced or advantageous position

“a young man sure to get ahead”

“pushing talented students ahead”

07adverb

to a different or a more advanced time (meaning advanced either toward the present or toward the future)

“moved the appointment ahead from Tuesday to Monday”

“pushed the deadline ahead from Tuesday to Wednesday”

08adverb

leading or ahead in a competition

“the horse was three lengths ahead going into the home stretch”

“ahead by two pawns”

Meanings and examples from Open English WordNet 2025. About our sources ↗

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Expressions with “ahead”

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Explore multiword dictionary entries containing this word. Each has its own meanings and related words.

go ahead get ahead set ahead dead ahead move ahead plow ahead pull ahead thrust ahead