Crossword Genius

Quietly retreat, then go ahead (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

precede

'go ahead' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'quietly retreat' is the wordplay.
'quietly' becomes 'p' (p for piano and quiet).
'retreat' becomes 'recede' (receding is a kind of retreating).
'p'+'recede'='PRECEDE'

'then' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for precede that I've seen before include "Forerun" , "Pave the way" , "Go ahead of" , "be in the van" , "Come or go before" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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