1. (

• ahead ,
• in_the_lead ,
• leading

) having the leading position or higher score in a contest; "he is ahead by a pawn"; "the leading team in the pennant race" ;

1. (

• ahead ,
• in_front ,
• before ,

) at or in the front; "I see the lights of a town ahead"; "the road ahead is foggy"; "staring straight ahead"; "we couldn't see over the heads of the people in front"; "with the cross of Jesus marching on before" ;

2. (

• ahead ,
• forward ,

) toward the future; forward in time; "I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring"; "I look forward to seeing you" ;

3. (

• ahead ,
• onward ,
• onwards ,
• forward ,
• forwards ,
• forrader

) in a forward direction; "go ahead"; "the train moved ahead slowly"; "the boat lurched ahead"; "moved onward into the forest"; "they went slowly forward in the mud" ;

4. (

• ahead ,
• in_advance ,
• beforehand

) ahead of time; in anticipation; "when you pay ahead (or in advance) you receive a discount"; "We like to plan ahead"; "should have made reservations beforehand" ;

5. (

• ahead ,

) to a more advanced or advantageous position; "a young man sure to get ahead"; "pushing talented students ahead" ;

6. (

• ahead ,

) to a different or a more advanced time (meaning advanced either toward the present or toward the future); "moved the appointment ahead from Tuesday to Monday"; "pushed the deadline ahead from Tuesday to Wednesday" ;

7. (

• ahead ,
• out_front ,
• in_the_lead

) leading or ahead in a competition; "the horse was three lengths ahead going into the home stretch"; "ahead by two pawns"; "our candidate is in the lead in the polls"; "way out front in the race"; "the advertising campaign put them out front in sales" ;