getting ahead

phrase

present participle of get ahead
as in making it
to reach a desired level of accomplishment a recent college graduate trying to get ahead in the working world

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of getting ahead With Día de Muertos just a month away, outdoor footwear manufacturer Timberland is getting ahead of the Mexican holiday celebration with the launch of a new Premium 6-Inch waterproof boot pack made up of unique styles for men and women. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026 Some strategists think the market is getting ahead of itself — that yields now essentially are pricing in stronger economic growth and are overly sensitive to the vagaries of oil prices amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026 Here's what scientists currently know so far, and where the hype may be getting ahead of the evidence. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Some farmers feel animosity toward the peach association for not getting ahead of the Del Monte bankruptcy and for not doing more to help farmers now that the damage has been done. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Gausman opened the following inning by getting ahead of Murakami 0-2 but followed with three straight balls, and the Sox slugger unloaded on a low fastball. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026 So Nvidia’s getting ahead of the whole debacle to find the next pool of money. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026 Not getting ahead of ourselves, Barça needs to think of the here and now in terms of squad planning. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Erceg appeared to shake it off, quickly getting ahead of Royce Lewis 0-2 in the count. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for getting ahead
  1. making it
  2. getting there
  3. cutting it
  4. making good
Phrase
  • That’s lowered expectations to just a handful, or none, of these startups making it to public markets, the sources said.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Fort Worth Arlington Heights Fresh off making it past the area round for the first time since 1973, the Yellow Jackets have another talented team under head coach Curtis James.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of making it
Phrase
  • For a franchise that has experienced the playoffs in consecutive seasons five times in its 150-year history, getting there back-to-back years is an accomplishment, even with the Cubs not accomplishing their goal of winning the World Series.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Moreover, the contrast between Paulina and Eloise shows who Paulina might become and the cost of getting there.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of getting there
Phrase
  • Use it in salads by marinating in soy sauce, lime juice, and black pepper, cutting it into thin strips, and sauteing with a little coconut oil.
    — Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026
  • If a stage is a tenth of the path, then even cutting it to zero shortens the path by a tenth at most.
    — Illia Smoliienko, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of cutting it
Phrase
  • What has not changed, though, are feelings of anxiety or uncertainty related to money, which can complicate making good decisions.
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The American was making good decisions and still lost the first set.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of making good

Browse Nearby Words

getting after
getting ahead
getting a kick out of
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Cite this Entry

“Getting ahead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/getting%20ahead. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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