lead the way
idiom
: to be the first person to go somewhere
You lead the way, and we'll follow.
—often used figurativelyTheir company led the way in developing this technology.
Examples of lead the way in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Keller Timber Creek Jillian Topping, senior G/F After a junior season that saw her earn TABC all-region honors, Topping is averaging 12 points to lead the way for the Falcons.
—
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026
China’s tech sector—including giants like Alibaba and Kuaishou, and small startups like DeepSeek, Moonshot, and MiniMax—is locked in a race to lead the way in AI.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
All aspects of the creative process are valid, so let joy lead the way.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
Guard Charlie Adams had 22 points, five rebounds and four assists to lead the way for Cleveland (13-8 overall, 4-0 league), with 12 of his points coming in the third quarter.
—Jack Gillespie, Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lead the way
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.
Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026
China’s tech sector—including giants like Alibaba and Kuaishou, and small startups like DeepSeek, Moonshot, and MiniMax—is locked in a race to lead the way in AI.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
All aspects of the creative process are valid, so let joy lead the way.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
Guard Charlie Adams had 22 points, five rebounds and four assists to lead the way for Cleveland (13-8 overall, 4-0 league), with 12 of his points coming in the third quarter.
—Jack Gillespie, Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lead the way
Cite this Entry
“Lead the way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead%20the%20way. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
