have/hold the lead
idiom
: to be in the winning position in a race or competition
A runner from Kenya has/holds the lead.
Examples of have/hold the lead in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Russkies appear to have the lead in the Space Race, the public interest in conquering the stars is waning, and the organization’s funding is on the chopping block.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2024
Yet the Sox hold the lead in the season series between the teams, having won four of the first seven meetings.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2024
But Raley rang up De La Cruz with a sweeper to hold the lead for the Mets.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2024
But the Bobcats would have the lead only two more times the rest of the night.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for have/hold the lead 
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2024
Yet the Sox hold the lead in the season series between the teams, having won four of the first seven meetings.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2024
But Raley rang up De La Cruz with a sweeper to hold the lead for the Mets.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2024
But the Bobcats would have the lead only two more times the rest of the night.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for have/hold the lead
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'have/hold the lead.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Cite this Entry
“Have/hold the lead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%2Fhold%20the%20lead. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
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