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
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
If there was something new on the horizon in the beauty field, Leonard was always one step ahead of the crowd.
—Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for a/one step ahead of
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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
If there was something new on the horizon in the beauty field, Leonard was always one step ahead of the crowd.
—Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for a/one step ahead of
Cite this Entry
“A/one step ahead of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%2Fone%20step%20ahead%20of. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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