ahead

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   In front, or in the direction you are facing or moving.

   The island was directly ahead.

2. 2
   adv

   In or for the future.

   There may be tough times ahead.

3. 3
   adv

   Winning or in a better position than others in a competition.

   The horse was three lengths ahead going into the final stretch.

4. 4
   adv

   Making good progress toward success.

   She worked extra hours in hopes of getting ahead at work.

From a- + head. Perhaps originally a nautical term, "beyond the head (of a ship)", then drifting into more general English usage where it is used to describe something as being "in front of".

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