call ahead

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle ahead

Usefulness

Meanings

Phone before you arrive or before something happens

Getting Ready

Why “ahead”? Attention reaches forward into the future so you are ready before it arrives.

“Leo called ahead to the shopping centre cafe before he and Maya planned their shopping trip.”

Leo phoned the cafe before they arrived to plan their shopping trip.

“Call ahead before you visit the clinic.”

Phone the clinic before you go there.

“Before their night out, Leo called ahead to check that the club had Maya's booking.”

Before their night out, Leo phoned the club before they arrived to check Maya's booking.

“Leo called ahead to the seaside hotel before the weekend train trip.”

Leo phoned the seaside hotel before they arrived for the weekend trip.

Don't confuse with

call aheadcall up

Call ahead means phone before you arrive or before something happens. Call up means phone someone.

call aheadcall back

Call ahead means phone before you arrive. Call back means return a phone call.

Test yourself

“Leo called ahead to the shopping centre cafe before he and Maya planned their shopping trip.” What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

call back

A contrast learners often mix up

Return a phone call; Try the phone call again; Recall a product because of a fault

call up

A contrast learners often mix up

Telephone someone; Order someone to join military service; Display information on a screen or computer; Bring a memory or feeling vividly to mind; Select a player for a higher-level team

get ahead