/ə'hed; ə`hɛd/ adv ~ (of sb/sth) further forward in space or time （在空间或时间上）向前, 往前, 朝前; 在前
*He ran ahead. 他跑在前面.
* The way ahead was blocked by fallen trees. 前面的路被倒下的树挡住了.
* The time to relax is when we're ahead, eg in advance of our working schedule. 我们提前完成, 才是休息的时候（如提前完成工作计划）.

adv

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1【in front】
2【forward】
3【before somebody else】
4【future】
5【before an event】
6 ahead of schedule
7【progress/success】
8【advanced】
9【WINNING】
10 go ahead
11 ahead of the game/curve

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【IN FRONT】
a short distance in front of someone or something
≠ behind
　He kept his gaze fixed on the car ahead.
ahead of
　A hill loomed ahead of them.
　We could see the lights of Las Vegas up ahead .
some/a little/a long way ahead
　The clinic was now in sight, some way ahead.
straight/dead ahead
(=straight in front)
　The river is eight miles away dead ahead.
　Henry hurried on ahead (=went in front of the others) .
【FORWARD】
if someone or something looks or moves ahead, they look or move forward
　He stared straight ahead .
　The ship forged ahead through the thin ice.
【BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE】
before someone else
ahead of
　There were four people ahead of me at the doctor's.
【FUTURE】
in the future
ahead of
　You have a long trip ahead of you.
　Considerable problems may lie ahead .
the years/days/months etc ahead
　We do not foresee any major changes in our way of life in the years ahead.
　Unless we plan ahead (=plan for the future) we are going to be in a mess.
【BEFORE AN EVENT】
before an event happens
= in advance
　I cook rice two or three hours ahead.
　Can you tell me ahead of time if you're coming?
ahead of
　He's giving a series of concerts in London ahead of his international tour.
ahead of schedule
earlier than planned or arranged
　I arrived at Jack's suite half an hour ahead of schedule.
【PROGRESS/SUCCESS】
making progress and being successful in your job, education etc
get/keep/stay ahead
　Getting ahead at work is the most important thing to her at the moment.
【ADVANCED】
ideas, achievements etc that are ahead of others have made more progress or are more developed
　This design is light years ahead (=much more advanced) in performance and comfort.
ahead of your/its time
(=very advanced or new, and not understood or accepted)
　Coleridge was in many ways far ahead of his time.
【WINNING】
winning in a competition or election
　Two shots from Gardner put the Giants 80-75 ahead .
　We are 10 points ahead in the polls.
ahead of
　At this stage, Smith appeared to be ahead of his rivals.
go ahead
a)spoken used to tell someone they can do something
　'Can I have the sports section?' 'Yeah, go ahead, I've read it.'
b) to do something that was planned, especially in spite of a problem
go ahead with
　Frank'll be late but we'll go ahead with the meeting anyway.
c) to take place
　Tests of anti-cancer drugs are to go ahead this year.
→go-ahead¹
ahead of the game/curve
AmE informal in a position where you are in control of something, and more successful than your competitors
　Belmont city leaders have never been ahead of the curve in environmental matters.