Definition of the word ahead of

The phrase "ahead of" is commonly used to express a relation of priority, superiority, or anticipation. Its origin can be traced back to the late 14th century in Middle English, where it was spelled "aheden," and meant "in front of" or "before" in a spatial sense. The word "ahead" itself comes from an Old English compound word "ālig ahead," which translates to "forward to" or "before." This compound was formed by combining the Old English words "āl," meaning "forward," and "hēd," meaning "head" or "front." In its spatial sense, "ahead of" has a simple meaning, like we say "I am ahead of you in this race". It implies that the speaker is located physically before the other person, or that something is yet to come before something else. However, in its figurative sense, "ahead of" has a broader meaning. It can represent priority, achievement, or progress over a period. We often say "the company is ahead of its competitors in sales," which means that the company has higher sales figures than its competitors as of a particular point in time. Over time, the use of "ahead of" has evolved to include its more figurative uses, such as "ahead of schedule," "ahead of time," and "ahead of the curve." In these contexts, "ahead" represents being before the normal or expected timeline. In general, the etymology of "ahead of" shows how a simple spatial term evolved into a complex, multifaceted English expression that is widely used today to convey various shades of meaning.