1 B2 idiomatic neutral
to move in front of others in a race or competition
"Our team pulled ahead in the final five minutes."
inseparable
pull ahead
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
to move into the lead or make faster progress than others
In plain English
to get in front of other people
What does "pull ahead" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
to become more successful or advanced than others
"Smaller firms struggled as the market leader pulled ahead."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Literally, to pull yourself farther to the front.
Actually means
to get in front of other people
Usage tip
Common in races, business, polling, and any competitive situation.
Words that pair with "pull ahead"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
in the race in the polls of competitors economically in the second half by two points
How to conjugate "pull ahead"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
pull ahead
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pulls ahead
he/she/it
Past simple
pulled ahead
yesterday
Past participle
pulled ahead
have + pp
-ing form
pulling ahead
continuous
Hear "pull ahead" in the wild
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Other ways to say "pull ahead"
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