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
  • One day prior to his arrest, a report from The Hollywood Reporter saw employees at several New Orleans businesses claim that LaBeouf had been showing up at various drinking establishments in the city's Uptown neighborhood, on an apparent bar crawl that began on Thursday.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Jim Hill reporting prior to a UCLA Bruins football game on September 12, 2025, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 17 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
  • Know More The administration’s approach to the actual cases never fit the pattern of a new antitrust movement.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
  • For all its homage to maritime heritage, the rooms themselves do not skimp on contemporary comforts.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 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 18 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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