GETTING AHEAD Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

getting ahead

phrase

present participle of get ahead

as in making it

to reach a desired level of accomplishment a recent college graduate trying to get ahead in the working world

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 getting ahead By the end of the fifth, the Dodgers had gone eight consecutive innings without scoring, and with a game plan of getting ahead before the Brewers’ vaunted bullpen could take over. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 In a constant comms environment, the race to get something out can lead to getting ahead of the content. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 With Día de Muertos just a month away, outdoor footwear manufacturer Timberland is getting ahead of the Mexican holiday celebration with the launch of a new Premium 6-Inch waterproof boot pack made up of unique styles for men and women. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026 Some strategists think the market is getting ahead of itself — that yields now essentially are pricing in stronger economic growth and are overly sensitive to the vagaries of oil prices amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026 Here's what scientists currently know so far, and where the hype may be getting ahead of the evidence. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Some farmers feel animosity toward the peach association for not getting ahead of the Del Monte bankruptcy and for not doing more to help farmers now that the damage has been done. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Gausman opened the following inning by getting ahead of Murakami 0-2 but followed with three straight balls, and the Sox slugger unloaded on a low fastball. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026 So Nvidia’s getting ahead of the whole debacle to find the next pool of money. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for getting ahead

Phrase

Three years after making it, while driving drunk in East Hampton, Pollock crashed his car, killing himself and one of the passengers, Edith Metzger.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
That’s lowered expectations to just a handful, or none, of these startups making it to public markets, the sources said.

— Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of making it

Phrase

The Valkyries are the fastest expansion team to reach the WNBA Finals by getting there in year two — one year faster than Atlanta did in 2010.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
At the time, getting there meant taking multiple flights with monster layovers, arriving early in the morning with little to no rest in between.

— Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of getting there

Phrase

Bouchard scored twice in the second period, sparking Edmonton's rally by cutting it to 2-1 11 seconds into the frame on a long wrist shot through traffic.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Bouchard scored twice in the second, sparking Edmonton’s rally by cutting it to 2-1 11 seconds into the period on a long wrist shot through traffic.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of cutting it

Phrase

The answer is that making good policy is challenging, and the definition of good policy itself is not clear cut.

— Scott Warren, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
What has not changed, though, are feelings of anxiety or uncertainty related to money, which can complicate making good decisions.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026