ahead

Toward the future

Ahead means in front or in advance of a position.

You walk ahead of someone, plan ahead for the future, or get ahead in your career.

It suggests forward motion or progress: The road ahead looks clear, She's ahead of schedule.

In competitions, being ahead means winning: We're ahead by three points.

To go ahead is to proceed: Go ahead and start without me.

spatial

forward

Onward in direction

frontForward-facing side
beforePrior in time
beyondFarther than something

onward · advance · distance · path · route · trajectory · bearing · course · straight · anterior

future

upcoming

Soon to occur

forthcomingSoon to appear
comingIn the process of approaching
prospectiveExpected in the future

horizon · outlook · destiny · eventual · impending · looming · approaching · imminent · pending · in-store

anticipation

foresight

Ability to anticipate futures

planningArranging for future events
forethoughtPlanning before acting
preparationArranging things in advance

expectation · forecast · prediction · prognosis · readiness · provision · contingency · preemptive · proactive · forward-thinking

progress

advancement

Forward movement or promotion

momentumProduct of mass, velocity
breakthroughSudden important advance
strideExtended single footstep

gain · development · growth · improvement · milestone · leapfrog · inroads · strides

leading

first

Position number one

winningAchieving victory
forefrontMost prominent position
vanguardForemost position or group

lead · front-runner · outpacing · outstripping · surpassing · overtaking · edging · dominant · superior · preeminent

rowing

ready

Suitable for use now

allThe complete quantity
rowLinear arrangement across
catchSeize or snag

drive · finish · release · feather · paddle · stroke · cox · call · timing · heads-up

Categories

locationhere, there, place, position, location
directionsnorth, south, east, west, left
futureforthcoming, upcoming, coming, impending, imminent
location wordshere, there, where, north, south
rankingsrankings, first, college rankings, second, third
timingtiming, stopwatch, pause, early, countdown

Opposites

spatial position

At the rear

back · backward · backwards · rearward · rearwards

temporal sequence

At the rear

after · later · afterward · afterwards · subsequently

competitive standing

At the rear

trailing · losing · down · bringing up the rear · lagging

Phrases

go aheadPermission to begin
ahead ofIn advance of
get aheadAchieve success or progress
ahead of timeBefore something is due
straight aheadIn a line, unchanged direction
getting aheadMaking forward advancement

Family

head, forehead, headway, headlong, headstart

Familiarity: Top 1,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G