Ahead
Ahead adjective - Having the leading position or higher score in a contest.
Key
Key adjective - Coming before all others in importance.
Both words in one sentence
- They infiltrate the target quarters ahead of the crew, often in disguise, identify its key areas and hot spots, and inform the crew of what is likely to await them as they go to pull off the job.
Source: Caper Crew - In the NUMB3RS episode "Animal Rites", the villain organized a flashmob ahead of time to distract the authorities at a key moment.
Source: Flash Mob Cover-Up -
The Spartan's shield generated more kills than the Ninja's entire arsenal, and was key in edging out ahead of the Samurai.
Source: Series / Deadliest Warrior
Cite this Source
Key and Ahead. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/ahead/key
Ahead & Key. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/ahead/key>.
Key or Ahead. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/ahead/key.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "ahead" and "key" have occurred on timeline