What is the meaning of ahead?

adjective

• Having the leading position or higher score in a contest.
  • usage: "he is ahead by a pawn"; "the leading team in the pennant race"
  • synonyms: in the lead, leading

adverb

• At or in the front.
  • usage: "I see the lights of a town ahead"; "the road ahead is foggy"; "staring straight ahead"; "we couldn't see over the heads of the people in front"; "with the cross of Jesus marching on before"
  • synonyms: in front, before
• Toward the future; forward in time.
  • usage: "I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring"; "I look forward to seeing you"
  • synonyms: forward
• In a forward direction.
  • usage: "go ahead"; "the train moved ahead slowly"; "the boat lurched ahead"; "moved onward into the forest"; "they went slowly forward in the mud"
  • synonyms: onward, onwards, forward, forwards, forrader
• Ahead of time; in anticipation.
  • usage: "when you pay ahead (or in advance) you receive a discount"; "We like to plan ahead"; "should have made reservations beforehand"
  • synonyms: in advance, beforehand
• To a more advanced or advantageous position.
  • usage: "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. )
  • usage: "moved the appointment ahead from Tuesday to Monday"; "pushed the deadline ahead from Tuesday to Wednesday"
• Leading or ahead in a competition.
  • usage: "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"
  • synonyms: out front, in the lead