Meanings
- idiomaticnot comparableMaintaining a slight advantage; continuing to lead.
I've always kept one step ahead of the competition.
2 more examples
Chalaza: Okay, Thursday night, it's mailroom Monday, we just got our new shipment. Xavier (Vernon Chatman): What do you do if the cops come knocking? Chalaza: We toilet-flush the drugs. Xavier: Let's stay one step ahead of the cops, flush them now. Chalaza: I like, one step ahead of the policia.
2007, Xavier: Renegade Angel, season 1, episode 2Wilshere had another shot saved low down by Hart as City struggled to keep up with Arsenal's flowing forward play, the home team always appeared to be one step ahead as City boss Roberto Mancini showed his annoyance by remonstrating with his players on the touchline.
2011 January 5, Jonathan Stevenson, “Arsenal 0 - 0 Man City”, in BBCSynonyms: one jump ahead
Synonyms & antonyms
adverbMaintaining a slight advantage; continuing to lead.
Translations
Chinese Mandarin 略勝一籌 /略胜一筹, 領先一步 /领先一步
- 略勝一籌 /略胜一筹 (lüèshèngyīchóu)maintaining a slight advantage
- 領先一步 /领先一步 (lǐngxiān yī bù)maintaining a slight advantage
Dutch een stap voor
- een stap voormaintaining a slight advantage
Finnish askeleen edellä
- askeleen edellämaintaining a slight advantage
German einen Schritt voraus
- einen Schritt vorausmaintaining a slight advantage
Irish céim chun cinn
- céim chun cinnmaintaining a slight advantage
Swedish ligga steget före
- ligga steget föremaintaining a slight advantage
Cite this entry
one step ahead. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one%20step%20ahead
“one step ahead.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one%20step%20ahead. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “one step ahead,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one%20step%20ahead.
Source: one step ahead on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.