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
Meanwhile, the Royals have added a contact bat to an offense that has been just a step ahead of the Pirates at the bottom of the league in runs scored.
—
Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
Fisher actually benefitted from those signings financially in terms of staying one step ahead of the grievance procedure from the Major League Baseball Players Association for his refusal to spend, at the same time keeping the A’s in the realm of teams qualifying for revenue sharing.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 4 July 2025
His illustrations were bizarre, satirical, and often a step ahead of their time.
—Air Mail, 7 June 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for a/one step ahead of
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Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
Fisher actually benefitted from those signings financially in terms of staying one step ahead of the grievance procedure from the Major League Baseball Players Association for his refusal to spend, at the same time keeping the A’s in the realm of teams qualifying for revenue sharing.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 4 July 2025
His illustrations were bizarre, satirical, and often a step ahead of their time.
—Air Mail, 7 June 2025
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
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 2 Aug. 2025.
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