significantly ahead

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significantly ahead" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something is far in front of others in terms of progress, performance, or position. Example: "In the race, she was significantly ahead of her competitors, making it clear she was the favorite to win."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We [Labour] should be significantly ahead.

The Guardian

Arriving significantly ahead of time is equally a no-no.

The Guardian

But Republicans' outside groups remain significantly ahead in ad spending.

The New York Times

The autoworkers may be significantly ahead of top Chrysler management.

The New Yorker

"We were significantly ahead of D'Amato and within 48 hours, Abrams tanked.

The New York Times

Klinsmann turns up the heat on this group significantly ahead of the Gold Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

The increases are significantly ahead of inflation, which was 29% over the past nine years.

The Guardian - Money

Norway and Switzerland came just below Luxembourg, but significantly ahead of Germany.

The Guardian - Money

The company said last week that it expected its sales next year to be "significantly ahead of market expectations".

The New York Times

It adds: "Consequently group results for this period are significantly ahead of both budget and the prior year".

The Guardian - Business

Ministers said the sale price is significantly ahead of expectations and reflects the value of the asset.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "significantly ahead" to clearly communicate a substantial lead or advantage, especially when comparing metrics or performance. For example, "Sales this quarter are significantly ahead of last year's figures."

Common error

Avoid using "significantly ahead" without providing a clear point of reference. Instead of saying "Our product is significantly ahead", specify what it's ahead of (e.g., "Our product is significantly ahead of the competition in user satisfaction ratings").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significantly ahead" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate the extent of leading or surpassing something else. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts of performance, rankings, and financial results.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

15%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Film

5%

Encyclopedias

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "significantly ahead" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to denote a substantial lead or advantage. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, as well as formal business communications. When using this phrase, it's important to provide a clear reference point for comparison to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "well in the lead" or "considerably in front" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Overall, "significantly ahead" is a reliable and effective way to communicate a notable difference in progress or performance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

well in the lead

Emphasizes the leading position, focusing on distance or advantage.

considerably in front

Highlights the extent of the advantage, using 'considerably' to amplify the difference.

substantially exceeding

Focuses on surpassing a certain level or expectation by a large margin.

markedly superior

Emphasizes the clear difference in quality or performance.

noticeably advanced

Highlights the visible progress or development compared to others.

comfortably winning

Indicates an easy or secure victory, without much competition.

easily outstripping

Shows that one is surpassing or exceeding with little effort.

dominating the field

Suggests a complete control or superiority over competitors.

far surpassing

Emphasizes a large degree of exceeding or outperforming.

considerably outperforming

Focuses on a substantially better performance compared to others.

FAQs

How can I use "significantly ahead" in a sentence?

You can use "significantly ahead" to indicate a substantial lead or advantage. For instance, "The company's profits are "significantly ahead" of projections", showing they've exceeded expectations.

What are some alternatives to saying "significantly ahead"?

Consider alternatives like "well in the lead", "considerably in front", or "substantially exceeding" depending on the specific context you want to emphasize.

Is it better to use "significantly ahead" or "slightly ahead"?

The choice depends on the magnitude of the lead. Use "significantly ahead" when the difference is substantial and noteworthy. If the lead is small, "slightly ahead" is more appropriate.

Which is correct: "significantly ahead of" or "significantly ahead than"?

"Significantly ahead of" is the correct phrasing. The word "than" is not needed and grammatically incorrect in this context. For example: "The project is "significantly ahead of" schedule" is correct.