ahead of

preposition

Synonyms of ahead ofnext
1
: in front or advance of
They were ahead of us in line.
2
: in excess of

Synonyms of ahead of

Relevance
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Examples of ahead of in a Sentence

She got ahead of me. They went on ahead of us and by now are several miles ahead of us. We have some hard work ahead of us. The polls show that he is ahead of the other candidates. The company is working hard to stay one step ahead of the competition. They were trailing us by 5 points earlier in the game, but now they're ahead of us by 7.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What happens when banks are the only companies recruiting a nervous generation two years ahead of time? — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Throw it on over your activewear after a workout or style the white version with your favorite Bermuda shorts and jelly sandals ahead of a family barbecue. — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026 Members of two conservative groups are planning a rally in support of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham outside of the United Center ahead of Saturday’s game against the Chicago Sky. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 Fall practice is underway for the Miami Hurricanes ahead of the 2026 college football season. — Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ahead of

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ahead of was in 1613

Rhymes for ahead of

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Browse Nearby Words

ahead
ahead of
ahead of one's/its time
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ahead of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ahead%20of. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

ahead of

preposition
: in or at a place or time before
got ahead of me
we're ahead of schedule
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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