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ahead

adverb or adjective
\ ə-ˈhed How to pronounce ahead (audio) \

Definition of ahead

1a : 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
5a : 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

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
(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
Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about ahead

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Synonyms & Antonyms for ahead

Synonyms

afore [chiefly dialect], already, antecedently, anteriorly, before, beforehand, earlier, formerly, preliminarily, previously

Antonyms

after, afterward (or afterwards), later

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Examples of ahead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 The decision to go ahead with talks despite the latest tit-for-tat tariff hikes on Sept. 1 encouraged global financial markets. — Washington Post, "China’s trade with US shrinks as tariff war worsens," 9 Sep. 2019 Andreescu stopped the bleeding with a service hold to go ahead 6-5, then broke Williams' serve to clinch the victory. — Samuel Chamberlain, Fox News, "Bianca Andreescu defeats Serena Williams in US Open final for first major title," 8 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ahead.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of ahead

1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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More Definitions for ahead

ahead

adverb
How to pronounce ahead (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of ahead

: in or toward the front
: to or toward the place where someone is going
: in, into, or for the future

See the full definition for ahead in the English Language Learners Dictionary

ahead

adverb or adjective
\ ə-ˈhed How to pronounce ahead (audio) \

Kids Definition of ahead

1 : in or toward the front The road stretched ahead for many miles.
2 : into or for the future You should think ahead.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ahead

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with ahead

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ahead

Spanish Central: Translation of ahead

Nglish: Translation of ahead for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of ahead for Arabic Speakers

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