ahead of

Definition of ahead ofnext
1
as in before
earlier than always arrives at school ahead of the bus we were cautioned not to fill out any of the test answers ahead of time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in in advance of
preceding in space the three lost children emerged from the forest, with the family dog walking proudly ahead of them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ahead of Now that his recruitment is over, McCurdy is focused on taking a big stride ahead of his senior season. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026 Make your vehicle visible to others both ahead of you and behind you by using your low-beam headlights since this means your taillights will also be on. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Feb. 2026 Our sister, Alice, who was in the year ahead of us, soon arrived at the hospital. Christopher Beha, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026 The pair came together for the film’s press conference ahead of its international premiere Saturday night, the room overflowing with journalists keen to get a glimpse of the Grammy-winning Brit. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ahead of
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ahead of
Preposition
  • Ireland, the Steelers and the Rooney connection The Rooney family, the Steelers’ majority owners, trace their roots to Ireland, where their ancestors emigrated from in the 1840s before eventually settling in Pittsburgh.
    Tom Chitty, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Similarly, footage showing federal agents killing Alex Pretti revealed the ICU nurse was holding a phone in his right hand, and an officer removing a gun from his back waistband before the shooting.
    Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
Preposition
  • After a run of three losses in four fights, Tszyu (26-3, 18 KOs) defeated Anthony Velazquez by unanimous decision in December, and reportedly will line up another fight prior to fighting Spence.
    SportsDay Staff, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Blenkarn and Lim also spoke in an interview prior to the show of wanting to re-create the sensation of gathering around a television and passing a controller back and forth among family or friends while offering commentary on someone’s play style.
    Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Preposition
  • Leading California Democrats railed against the cuts.
    Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Paris — Gisèle Pelicot emerged as a global feminist hero in 2024 by transforming her horrific, personal story into a public battle against rape culture.
    Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 12 Feb. 2026
Preposition
  • The Seahawks used a first-round bye to rest, heal and prepare, and then routed the 49ers in a divisional-round game before beating the Rams, 31-27, to advance to the Super Bowl.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Blue Origin, the space exploration company founded by Jeff Bezos, also holds a multibillion NASA contract to develop a vehicle capable of ferrying astronauts from deep space to the lunar surface.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ahead of.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ahead%20of. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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