lead story
noun
: the first and most important story
His arrest was the lead story on the evening news.
Examples of lead story in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The lead story scheduled for this Sunday’s episode will focus on the potential ramifications of the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the National Institutes of Health.
—
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
Because the lead story on every homepage and on every hour of cable TV was Garcia.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Why was this not the lead story everywhere? To be candid, North Carolina is just a blip on the radar of the coastal media elites, dismissed as fly-over country.
—Howard Kurtz, Fox News, 2 Oct. 2024
What should be the lead story on days when lots of children are killed?
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
Naturally, the Italian campaign is the lead story in Bloomingdale’s fashion catalogue, which arrives at homes during the first week of September.
—David Moin, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
This lead story in the paper rushed past the miraculous rescue of four hostages and relegated the Oct. 7 killing of 1,200 and abduction of 250 to Page A19.
—Washington Post, 21 June 2024
The decision was the lead story on the home pages of the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Hill and more.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2024
There are announcements of across-the-board layoffs at the Beeb, arguments about what does and does not constitute a proper lead story, and enough editorial handwringing to require skin grafts on numerous palms.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
Because the lead story on every homepage and on every hour of cable TV was Garcia.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Why was this not the lead story everywhere? To be candid, North Carolina is just a blip on the radar of the coastal media elites, dismissed as fly-over country.
—Howard Kurtz, Fox News, 2 Oct. 2024
What should be the lead story on days when lots of children are killed?
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
Naturally, the Italian campaign is the lead story in Bloomingdale’s fashion catalogue, which arrives at homes during the first week of September.
—David Moin, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019
This lead story in the paper rushed past the miraculous rescue of four hostages and relegated the Oct. 7 killing of 1,200 and abduction of 250 to Page A19.
—Washington Post, 21 June 2024
The decision was the lead story on the home pages of the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Hill and more.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2024
There are announcements of across-the-board layoffs at the Beeb, arguments about what does and does not constitute a proper lead story, and enough editorial handwringing to require skin grafts on numerous palms.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Lead story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead%20story. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share