ahead of their time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ahead of their time" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is used to describe something, usually a person, who has an idea or view that is more advanced than what is currently accepted or normal for the period in which they exist. For example: "Isaac Newton was truly ahead of his time in realizing the laws of gravity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Ortons were ahead of their time.

The New York Times

They were people ahead of their time.

The New York Times

Maps were far ahead of their time.

The New Yorker

They were artists ahead of their time.

The Guardian - Music

They are either ahead of their time or too late.

The New York Times - Magazine

It turns out my grandparents were ahead of their time.

The New York Times

"Bosch and Brueghel were ahead of their time," he said.

The New Yorker

In certain respects his ideas were ahead of their time.

The New York Times

Mr. Wright's parents, however, were ahead of their time.

The New York Times

The early, risque songs were well ahead of their time.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

However, this filtering method will certainly miss some phenomenal and ahead-of-their-time scientists.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the plural possessive 'their' matches a plural subject; if referring to a single person, use "ahead of his time" or "ahead of her time".

Common error

Do not use "ahead of their time" when you mean they arrived early for an appointment. In such cases, use "ahead of schedule" or "ahead of time" without the possessive pronoun.

Linguistic Context

This phrase functions as an adjectival phrase usually following a linking verb (like 'to be'). As noted by Ludwig, it acts to characterize a subject based on its chronological relationship to societal norms or technological standards. It consists of the preposition 'ahead', the prepositional phrase 'of their time', and a possessive pronoun that must agree with the subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0.1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ahead of their time" is a robust and sophisticated idiom used to describe individuals, ideas, or works that were more advanced than what was standard for their era. Ludwig data shows a heavy concentration of this phrase in prestigious publications like The New York Times and The Guardian, underscoring its reliability in professional writing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and notes its versatility across fields ranging from music and art to science and architecture. When using this phrase, ensure that the possessive pronoun agrees with your subject and avoid confusing it with simple punctuality expressions like 'ahead of schedule'.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before their time

Changes the preposition from 'ahead of' to 'before' while maintaining the exact same meaning

visionary

Uses a single adjective to describe the person or idea rather than a prepositional phrase

advanced for their era

Replaces the idiomatic 'time' with the more specific 'era' for a slightly more formal tone

pioneering

Emphasizes the act of being the first to explore or settle a new area of thought

ahead of the curve

Uses a different metaphor related to statistical distribution or trends

revolutionary

Suggests a more radical impact that changes the status quo entirely

trailblazing

Focuses on the path-finding aspect of the individual or idea

futuristic

Directly links the subject to qualities belonging to the future

groundbreaking

Focuses on the novelty and foundational change provided by the idea

precursors to their field

Frames the subject as a forerunner that led to later developments

FAQs

How to use "ahead of their time" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe visionary entities, for example: "The designers were truly "ahead of their time" when they proposed a paperless office in the 1970s."

What can I say instead of "ahead of their time"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "visionary", "advanced for the era", or "pioneering".

Is "ahead of their time" or "ahead of their times" correct?

While both are used, "ahead of their time" (singular time) is the standard idiomatic form. The plural "ahead of their times" is much less common and often considered less precise.

What is the difference between "ahead of their time" and "visionary"?

The phrase "ahead of their time" specifically emphasizes the chronological mismatch between the idea and society's readiness for it, whereas "visionary" focuses more on the person's ability to imagine the future.