ahead

at or in the front

• “I see the lights of a town ahead”
• “the road ahead is foggy”
• “staring straight ahead”
• “we couldn”
• “;”

toward the future; forward in time

• “I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring”
• “I look forward to seeing you”

in a forward direction

• “go ahead”
• “the train moved ahead slowly”
• “the boat lurched ahead”
• “moved onward into the forest”
• “they went slowly forward in the mud”

ahead of time; in anticipation

• “when you pay ahead (or in advance) you receive a discount”
• “We like to plan ahead”
• “should have made reservations beforehand”

to a more advanced or advantageous position

• “a young man sure to get ahead”
• “pushing talented students ahead”

to a different or a more advanced time (meaning advanced either toward the present or toward the future)

• “moved the appointment ahead from Tuesday to Monday”
• “pushed the deadline ahead from Tuesday to Wednesday”

leading or ahead in a competition

• “the horse was three lengths ahead going into the home stretch”
• “ahead by two pawns”
• “our candidate is in the lead in the polls”
• “way out front in the race”
• “the advertising campaign put them out front in sales”

having the leading position or higher score in a contest

• “he is ahead by a pawn”
• “the leading team in the pennant race”