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ahead of
/əˈhɛd ɒv/
in front of or leading
The company is ahead of its competitors in innovation.
The company is leading its competitors in innovation.
general
In front of or leading in position, time, or progress
She finished the project ahead of schedule.
She completed the project earlier than planned.
We need to stay ahead of the competition.
We need to maintain a leading position over our competitors.
Often used to indicate progress, time, or position relative to others.
Collocations
ahead of scheduleearlier than plannedahead of timebefore the expected timeahead of the curveleading or innovative
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
Use 'ahead of' to describe being in front of someone or something in terms of time, progress, or position.
Gold Rule
Correct Usage
'Ahead of' is used to indicate being in front or leading, not just physical position.
Word Origin
From 'ahead' (early 14c., 'in front') + 'of' (Old English 'of'). The phrase 'ahead of' has been used since the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe progress, time, or position relative to others.
Word Breakdown
ahead
in front or leading
adverbof
indicates relationship or belonging
prepositionEnglish Dictionary