Synonyms and related words :
advantage, allowance, anticipation, beginnings, bulge, coign of vantage, deadwood, draw, drop, earliness, early hour, early stage, edge, first crack, first stage, flying start, foresight, ground floor, handicap, inside track, jump, odds, prevenience, prevision, readiness, running start, something extra, something in reserve, start, time to spare, upper hand, vantage, vantage ground, vantage point, very beginning, whip hand