lead-in

noun

ˈlēd-ˌin 

: something (such as a television show or segment) that leads into something else

a lead-in to the commercial

lead-in adjective

Examples of lead-in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Last Sunday’s episode averaged 10 million viewers, buoyed by an NFL game lead-in. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2026

The lead-in promos for Fox featuring celebrities such as Dwyane Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Bill Hader were especially cringeworthy. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

But the program’s performance on Sunday, which lacked exactly that kind of NFL lead-in, is alarming nonetheless. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026

Fox has not released its midseason schedule yet, but in the last couple of years, The Masked Singer has aired in the 8 pm timeslot and it is expected to remind in that slot in the upcoming season as a lead-in to Baywatch. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lead-in

• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• crankpin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin

Kids Definition

lead-in

noun

ˈlēd-ˌin

: something (as a television show or segment) that leads into something else

lead-in adjective