get ahead

British  

verb

1. to be successful; prosper

2. (foll by of) to surpass or excel

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get ahead Idioms  

1. Succeed or make progress, especially in one's career or in society. For example, She put in many hours of overtime in order to get ahead . [c. 1800]

2. Save a little money, as in After we settle the hospital bill, we hope to get ahead enough to buy a new car .

3. get ahead of . Move in front of, as in I got ahead of her in line .

4. get ahead of . Outdo, surpass, as in We were determined to get ahead of the competition . Also see ahead of the game .

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Example Sentences

Investors should still take care not to get ahead of themselves given the “fragile” state of the cease-fire, as Macquarie analysts put it.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

Rumours swirled that perhaps she was trying to get ahead of something new, given the general claims she referenced have circulated for years and she's usually relied on her lawyers to respond.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

“Ultimately, it’s important that investors don’t get ahead of themselves,” Gilbert warned.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

“I won’t get ahead of him on that,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

“Sure. Whoa! Somebody gotta get ahead in this place. Anyway, this ack got plenny class, bring in a lotta trade. I be gettin a raise. Hey!”

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole