/ əˈhed; NAmE / adverb
HELP NOTE : For the special uses of ahead in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example press ahead (with sth) is in the phrasal verb section at press .
1.
further forward in space or time; in front :
I'll run ahead and warn them.
The road ahead was blocked.
We've got a lot of hard work ahead.
This will create problems in the months ahead.
He was looking straight ahead (= straight forward, in front of him) .
2.
earlier
SYN in advance :
The party was planned weeks ahead.
3.
winning; further advanced :
Our team was ahead by six points.
You need to work hard to keep ahead.
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (originally in nautical use): from a- in, at + head .