lead with

phrasal verb

led with; leading with; leads with
1
: to begin with (something specified)
The newspaper story led with a long report on the funeral.
2
: to begin a series of punches in boxing with (a punch thrown by a specified hand)
The champion led with a left to the body, followed up quickly with a right to the jaw.

Examples of lead with in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Rodgers led the Steelers on a go-ahead touchdown drive as Kenneth Gainwell ran in from 2 yards out to give Pittsburgh a 20-17 lead with less than four minutes left. Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026 The Moon is stepping into your vivacious sign, inviting you to lead with warmth by adjusting your approach as necessary and showing your heart without overexplaining. Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026 His fortunate bounce gave the Tigers a five-point lead with about 20 seconds to go in Columbia. Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 4 Jan. 2026 Rice led with eight assists, of UCLA’s 24 overall. Benjamin Royer, Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lead with

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lead with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead%20with. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!