ahead
Pronounced:
/əˈhɛd/
Function:
adverbMeaning:
1 a : in or toward the front ▪ The road stretched ahead for many miles. ▪ Someone was standing in the road (up) ahead. ▪ We knew the way ahead [=forward] was difficult, but we persevered. ▪ “Full speed ahead!” shouted the captain. ▪ He was looking straight ahead. [=directly forward] b : to or toward the place where someone is going ▪ I can't leave yet. You go on ahead. I'll catch up later. ▪ She was delayed at the airport so she sent her bags ahead to the hotel.
2 : in, into, or for the future ▪ We need to think/plan ahead. ▪ The past year has been successful and, looking ahead, we expect to do even better in the coming months. ▪ We have some hard work ahead. ▪ He expects to be very busy in the weeks ahead. ▪ We don't know what lies ahead. ▪ We'll pause now for a commercial. The weather report is just ahead. [=the weather report will be broadcast after the commercial]
3 : in the lead in a race or competition ▪ They were trailing by 5 points earlier in the game, but now they're ahead [=winning] by 7. ▪ They scored three runs to go ahead by two. ▪ a politician who is ahead in the polls ▪ We're winning now, but we have to work hard to stay/keep ahead.
4 : in or toward a better position ▪ I came out $20 ahead on the deal. [=I made a profit of $20 on the deal] ▪ He's very ambitious. He'll do anything to get ahead. [=to become successful]
5 : at an earlier time ▪ She prepared most of the food ahead. [=ahead of time] ▪ make payments ahead
2 : in, into, or for the future ▪ We need to think/plan ahead. ▪ The past year has been successful and, looking ahead, we expect to do even better in the coming months. ▪ We have some hard work ahead. ▪ He expects to be very busy in the weeks ahead. ▪ We don't know what lies ahead. ▪ We'll pause now for a commercial. The weather report is just ahead. [=the weather report will be broadcast after the commercial]
3 : in the lead in a race or competition ▪ They were trailing by 5 points earlier in the game, but now they're ahead [=winning] by 7. ▪ They scored three runs to go ahead by two. ▪ a politician who is ahead in the polls ▪ We're winning now, but we have to work hard to stay/keep ahead.
4 : in or toward a better position ▪ I came out $20 ahead on the deal. [=I made a profit of $20 on the deal] ▪ He's very ambitious. He'll do anything to get ahead. [=to become successful]
5 : at an earlier time ▪ She prepared most of the food ahead. [=ahead of time] ▪ make payments ahead