ahead 1 of 2

adverb

ə-ˈhed How to pronounce ahead (audio)
Definition of aheadnext
1
as in earlier
so as to precede something in order of time call ahead for reservations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forward
toward a point ahead in space or time sent me ahead to get a place in the check-out line while she went to get the eggs and milk

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in along
toward or at a point lying in advance in space or time the line moved ahead at a snail's pace

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ahead

2 of 2

adjective

as in early

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ahead
Adverb
Burrow's 13-yard scoring pass to Tee Higgins put Cincinnati ahead to stay. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 An October 15 Datafolha survey put Lula ahead among women by 49% to 40%, while Flávio led among men by 52% to 40%. — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026 On third-and-13, Bachmeier hit Legend Glasker to put the Cougars ahead. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 But Duke charged ahead despite an impressive outing from freshman guard Tyran Stokes, who nearly had a triple-double with 27 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. — Dominick Williams october 25, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026 About a week before Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, a poll had Abdul El-Sayed ahead by 15 points, 54% to 39% among likely primary voters. — Kari Butcher, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026 Traders will be paying close attention to what’s ahead on the artificial intelligence front with both companies as the AI trade undergoes turbulence. — Ananya Chetia,lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026 Riley urged his team Saturday to hang in there, assuring that its best days were still ahead. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026 That one touchdown came courtesy of junior running back Sire Gaines, who ran in a 9-yard score in the first quarter to put the Broncos ahead 7-0. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Adjective
For a make ahead option, assemble the casserole up to 1 day before baking. — Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026 If For All Mankind’s early seasons laid out an optimistic fantasy of what space travel could be, scientific advancement and social progress sweeping ahead hand in hand, Star City posits a much darker vision, and arguably one much more in keeping with our own current national mood. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026 With only seven ingredients (one of which is deli ham) and only 20 minutes of hands-on cooking required, this is our go-to make ahead breakfast that instantly makes mornings a little brighter. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026 Choose your ski resort and go on their website to find buy ahead deals. — Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026 As for these ahead-of-schedule Spurs? — Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ahead
  1. before
  2. forward
  3. along
  4. early
  5. already
  6. onward
  7. forwards
  8. prior
Adverb
  • Trump has also called off plans to renew attacks on Iran before.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Questions about the video will likely shadow Ramaswamy, a biotech billionaire who previously ran for president but has never before held public office, in the final two weeks of the contest.
    — Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of before
Adverb
  • The 6-foot-9 forward who signed a veteran minimum contract showed willingness to pick up opposing ball-handlers full court.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is moving forward with a $4 million investment to run an ad featuring Democrat Amy Acton’s estranged mother after the video received fierce backlash.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of forward
Adverb
  • Drake Maye, quarterback for the Patriots, has been further along in the league than his opponent.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Doctors point to how the body regulates its own temperature at night, and how a cozy pair of socks can nudge that process along.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of along
Adjective
  • In August 2023, Bangs offered LaGrone an earlier plea agreement under which he would have been sentenced to 25 years in prison, according to a record in the district clerk’s file.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Staying invested The survey, conducted between late August and early September, included 2,029 American investors with at least $10,000 in investable assets and 538 financial advisers and financial professionals.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of early
Adverb
  • Infrastructure on this scale needs a dedicated body that can keep pace with the technology and draw on the expertise already spread across existing agencies.
    — Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Jeffries will campaign with Johnny Garcia, who’s running a competitive race in one of those seats where Republicans initially expected an easier pickup (after already forcing one longtime Democratic incumbent to retire).
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of already
Adverb
  • From November onwards, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will get 15 hours of complimentary cloud streaming per month, while Game Pass Premium and Game Pass Essential will get ten and five respectively.
    — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The companies expect to launch up to 50 low-Earth orbit satellites annually from 2028 onward.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of onward
Adverb
  • Mourinho has been working hard to get the star forwards attacking different spaces on the counter.
    — Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Of course, just because a timeframe hasn't been announced to the public, that doesn't mean there is no internal timeframe that can be brought forwards and backwards as necessary.
    — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of forwards
Adjective
  • No prior bubble spanned so many dimensions of the economy simultaneously—GDP growth, consumer spending, equity markets, debt markets, and venture capital all tethered to a single theme.
    — Ming Lu, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Political messages sent through an automatic telephone dialing system generally require prior express consent before reaching your cellphone.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of prior

Phrases Containing ahead

Browse Nearby Words

aha
ahead
ahead of
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ahead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ahead. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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