ahead
adverb or adjective
1
a
: in a forward direction or position : forward
b
: in front
2
: in, into, or for the future
plan ahead
3
: in or toward a more advantageous position
helped others to get ahead
4
: at or to an earlier time : in advance
make payments ahead
5
a
: in or into a leading position in a race or competition
a politician who is running ahead in most polls
Josh Carter scored from a yard out and the Pride added a two-point conversion to surge ahead 14-7.—
Cumberland (Maryland) Times-News
Cumberland (Maryland) Times-News
b
baseball
(1)
of a pitcher
: in or into the situation of having thrown more strikes than balls to a batter
Home run threat Mark Reynolds was up next with the bases loaded, but Colon quickly got ahead 1-2 in the count and struck the third baseman out swinging with a … fastball.—Ray Monell
Ray Monell
(2)
of a batter
: in or into the situation of having a count of more balls than strikes
Albert Pujols got ahead 3-1 and then lined one into the seats in left for his 20th home run of the year and second of the series.—John Fay
John FayExamples of ahead in a Sentence
call ahead for reservations
sent me ahead to get a place in the check-out line while she went to get the eggs and milk
the line moved ahead at a snail's pace
Recent Examples on the Web
Have no fear, another option to lessen the impact of this change on your body’s circadian rhythm (the body’s internal clock controlling our sleep and wake cycles) is to simply set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday and go to sleep at your normal bedtime.
—Katia Hetter, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
Wilder’s current focus is on building a path ahead.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2025
Now, many other states are considering whether to stop falling back and springing ahead.
—Beth Ann Malow, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2025
Instead, the Rams embarked on a 32-13 run across the final 10 minutes to pull far ahead by the time fans started heading for the exits.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ahead
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Katia Hetter, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
Wilder’s current focus is on building a path ahead.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2025
Now, many other states are considering whether to stop falling back and springing ahead.
—Beth Ann Malow, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2025
Instead, the Rams embarked on a 32-13 run across the final 10 minutes to pull far ahead by the time fans started heading for the exits.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ahead
Cite this Entry
“Ahead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ahead. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ahead
adverb or adjective1
: in or toward the front
the road ahead
go ahead
2
: in, into, or for the future
think ahead
3
: in or toward a better position
came out $20 ahead on the deal
4
: at or to an earlier time : in advance
make payments ahead
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