get ahead

make progress in your career or life

B2

What does "get ahead" mean?

To get ahead means to make real progress in your career, education, or life in general — often implying that you are advancing faster than or beyond other people. There is a competitive edge to this phrase: it suggests not just personal improvement but outpacing others or climbing towards success. It is commonly used in conversations about ambition, hard work, and social mobility, often followed by a phrase specifying the area of life — 'in business', 'in your career', 'at work', or 'financially'. The phrase is neutral in tone and works equally well in spoken conversation, career advice articles, and journalistic writing about society and opportunity.

Examples

How to use it

get ahead (+ in/at + domain)

The most common structure — used without an object, often followed by a prepositional phrase specifying the area of life or work.

You have to be willing to take risks if you want to get ahead in business.

modal + get ahead

Frequently used after modal verbs like 'can', 'could', 'need to', or 'want to' to express ability, desire, or necessity.

With the right qualifications, you can really get ahead in this field.

try / struggle / work hard + to + get ahead

Commonly appears with verbs of effort, reflecting the competitive and ambitious connotation of the phrase.

She worked incredibly hard to get ahead in an industry that wasn't always welcoming.

determination / ambition + to + get ahead

Used after nouns that describe drive or intent, often in more reflective or written contexts.

His ambition to get ahead professionally pushed him to take on extra responsibilities.

get ahead + financially / professionally

Adverbs can replace or extend the prepositional phrase to specify the domain of progress.

Many young people find it harder than previous generations to get ahead financially.

Common Collocations

in lifein your careerin businesswork hard to get aheadstruggle to get aheadwant to get ahead

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'get ahead' with 'get ahead of'

'Get ahead' is intransitive and takes no object — it refers to general progress or advancement. 'Get ahead of' is a different construction that always requires a specific object (a person, group, or thing you are surpassing). Learners sometimes add an unwanted object to 'get ahead', or drop the required object from 'get ahead of'.

✗ She worked hard to get ahead her competitors.
✓ She worked hard to get ahead of her competitors. / She worked hard to get ahead in her career.
Confusing 'get ahead' with 'go ahead'

'Go ahead' means to proceed with something or give permission to start — it is not about long-term advancement. Use 'get ahead' when talking about making progress in life or a career over time.

✗ Please go ahead in your career by taking every opportunity.
✓ Please get ahead in your career by taking every opportunity.
Using 'get ahead' to mean simply coping or managing

'Get ahead' implies upward, competitive progress — not just getting by. If you mean that someone is managing or coping in a general situation, 'get on' is the more appropriate choice.

✗ How are you getting ahead at your new job? Is it going okay?
✓ How are you getting on at your new job? Is it going okay?

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works well in both spoken and written English, from casual conversation to career advice articles. It is especially common in American English in discussions about ambition and social mobility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'get ahead' always have a competitive meaning?

Not always, but there is often an implied sense of advancing relative to others or to a goal, not just improving in isolation. Even when no competitor is mentioned, the phrase suggests striving for upward progress — for example, 'You need to work hard to get ahead' carries the idea that others are also competing for the same success.

Can I use 'get ahead' without saying what area I'm progressing in?

Yes, the meaning is still clear without a prepositional phrase — context usually makes it obvious. Saying 'She's really driven and wants to get ahead' is perfectly natural. However, adding a phrase like 'in her career' or 'financially' makes the sentence more specific and is very common in practice.

Is 'get ahead' more common in American English?

It is widely used in both British and American English, but it is particularly frequent in American English, especially in discussions about ambition, the American Dream, and social mobility. In British English it appears regularly too, particularly in career advice, journalism, and everyday conversation.

Can I use 'get ahead' in the present continuous?

Yes, the present continuous is natural when describing an ongoing process of advancement — for example, 'She's really getting ahead at work lately.' It suggests visible, active progress happening right now or in a current period, which fits this phrasal verb well.

What kinds of subjects can 'get ahead' have — only individuals?

Not only individuals — groups can also get ahead. You can talk about companies, communities, countries, or generations getting ahead, as long as the subject is something that can realistically strive for advancement. For example, 'Young people today are finding it harder to get ahead than their parents did' is completely natural.

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