AAAmerican Accent US

get ahead

No object

This verb takes no object at all.

How to say it

Stress the particle, not the verb: get AHEAD. Saying “GET ahead” is the clearest learner tell — the verb stays light and the particle carries the beat.

The /t/ flaps. Between vowels, American /t/ and /d/ both become a quick tap, so “get ahead” comes out as “ge-dahead” — closer to a fast D than a T.

What it means

  1. To make progress, especially in a career.

    • “She worked nights for years to get ahead.”
    • “You won't get ahead by keeping quiet in meetings.”

    Similar: advance, progress

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More GET phrasal verbs

Compare the whole family →

get up

To rise from bed, or to stand up.

get along

To have a friendly relationship with someone.

get over

To recover from an illness, a shock or an upset.

get through

To survive or endure a difficult period to its end.

get by

To survive or manage with barely enough.

get rid of

To remove or dispose of something unwanted.

get away

To escape.

get away with

To do something wrong and escape the consequences.

get back

To return to a place.

get back at

To take revenge on someone.

get in

To enter a car or a small enclosed space.

get out

To leave a car or a building.

get ahead — meaning, examples & how to say it