When it comes to describing something or someone that is ahead of the competition, there are plenty of synonyms to choose from. To begin with, you can use phrases like "leads the pack" or "is in the lead". Additionally, words such as "surpasses", "outpaces", "outclasses" and "outranks" can be used to convey the sense of being ahead of the curve. Other options include "prevails over", "dominates", "excels", and "outperforms". Whether you're describing a person, team or product, these synonyms for "is ahead of" can add depth and nuance to your writing.