phone ahead
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To make a phone call at a destination before arriving there to let people there know one is coming and to make suitable arrangements.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “phone ahead” mean?
To make a phone call at a destination before arriving there to let people there know one is coming and to make suitable arrangements.
Is “phone ahead” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.