a/one step ahead of

idiom

1

: better prepared than (someone or something)

The teacher really has to work to keep one step ahead of the class.

She always seems to be one step ahead of me.

2

: able to avoid being caught or found by (someone or something)

So far the killer has managed to stay one step ahead of the police/law.

Examples of a/one step ahead of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In my current role, helping global platforms modernize their onboarding and authentication journeys, I’m constantly engaged with businesses trying to stay one step ahead of increasingly sophisticated fraud. —Luke Boddis, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

Protect your privacy, defend your accounts, and stay one step ahead of the scammers. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025

But Day is three times smarter than anyone else in the picture, thinking one step ahead of Stewart, who spends too much time on a wild goose chase and trying to figure out how to eat an African dinner with one hand. —Neal Justin, Boston Herald, 13 June 2025

The key is to stay one step ahead of chlorine’s harsh effects. —Holly Carter, People.com, 9 June 2025