1. At or in the front
   "I see the lights of a town ahead"; "the road ahead is foggy"; "staring straight ahead";
   - in front, before
    
2. In the usual direction of travel, straight on
   "go ahead"; "the train moved ahead slowly"; "the boat lurched ahead";
   - onward, onwards, forward, forwards, forrader [dialect]
    
3. Ahead of time; in anticipation
   "when you pay ahead you receive a discount"; "We like to plan ahead";
   - in advance, beforehand
    
4. To a more advanced or advantageous position
   "a young man sure to get ahead"; "pushing talented students ahead"
    
5. Leading in a competition
   "the horse was three lengths ahead going into the home stretch"; "ahead by two pawns";
   - out front [informal], in the lead
    
6. 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. Toward the future; at a later time
   "I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring";
   - forward

1. Having the leading position or higher score in a contest
   "he is ahead by a pawn";
   - in the lead, leading

See also: up

Antonym: back

Encyclopedia: Ahead