think ahead — to plan for the future
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to consider what might happen later and make plans or preparations now.
Say it like a native
Textbook It is prudent to anticipate future contingencies well in advance.
Native It pays to think ahead.
Natural; 'anticipate future contingencies' is consultant-speak.
Pattern: think ahead (to/about something)
In use
- If you want to save money for a holiday, it's important to think ahead and start budgeting early.daily life
- In my opinion, people who think ahead are usually more successful because they are ready for unexpected situations.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ You should think ahead for the future.
✓ You should think ahead.
'Ahead' already means 'about the future' — don't add 'for the future'.
Common collocations
think ahead— a little, plan ahead, need to, try to
Don't confuse it
'Think ahead' is about planning for the future, while 'think over' means to consider something carefully, and 'think back' means to remember the past.