lead

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈlēd 

led ˈled  ; leading

transitive verb

1

a

: to guide on a way especially by going in advance

led the officers to his hiding place

b

: to direct on a course or in a direction

a road leading the traveler to the heart of the city

c

: to serve as a channel for

a pipe leads water to the house

2

: to go through : live

lead a quiet life

3

a(1)

: to direct the operations, activity, or performance of

lead an orchestra

(2)

: to have charge of

lead a campaign

(3)

: to suggest to (a witness) the answer desired by asking leading questions

counsel is leading this witness, putting words in her mouth

—Erle Stanley Gardner

b(1)

: to go at the head of

lead a parade

(2)

: to be first in or among

lead the league

(3)

: to have a margin over

led his opponent

4

: to bring to some conclusion or condition

led to believe otherwise

5

: to begin play with

lead trumps

6

a

: to aim in front of (a moving object)

lead a duck

b

: to pass a ball or puck just in front of (a moving teammate)

intransitive verb

1

a

: to guide someone or something along a way

You lead and we'll follow.

b

: to lie, run, or open in a specified place or direction

path leads uphill

c

: to guide a dance partner through the steps of a dance

2

a

: to be first

This state leads in population.

b(1)

: begin, open

will lead off with a Christmas story

—Richard Bissell

(2)

: to play the first card of a trick, round, or game

3

: to tend toward or have a result

study leading to a degree

4

: to direct the first of a series of blows at an opponent in boxing

lead

2 of 5

noun (1)

ˈlēd 

1

a(1)

: leadership

look to the president for a unifying lead

—D. W. Brogan

(2)

: example, precedent

followed the lead of the majority leader in voting

b(1)

: position at the front : vanguard

The runner from Kenya was in the lead for most of the race.

(2)

: initiative

took the lead in fighting the measure

(3)

: the act or privilege of playing first in a card game

Your partner has the lead.

also : the card or suit played first

His lead was the ace.

c

: a margin or measure of advantage or superiority or position in advance

enjoys a good lead over all competitors

2

: one that leads: such as

a

: lode sense 2

b

: a channel of water especially through a field of ice

c

: indication, clue

The detectives had a few leads to follow.

d

: a principal role in a dramatic production

She was the romantic lead in the movie.

also : one who plays such a role

e

: leash sense 1

train a dog to walk on a lead

f(1)

: an introductory section of a news story : lede

edit the lead to grab the reader's attention

(2)

: a news story of chief importance

The story of his arrest was the lead in newspapers across the country.

3

: an insulated electrical conductor connected to an electrical device

4

: the course of a rope from end to end

5

: the amount of axial (see axial sense 2a) advance of a point accompanying a complete turn of a thread (as of a screw or worm)

6

: a position taken by a base runner off a base toward the next

The runner on first took a big lead.

7

: the first punch of a series or an exchange of punches in boxing

lead

3 of 5

adjective

ˈlēd 

: acting or serving as a lead (see lead entry 2) or leader

a lead article

lead

4 of 5

noun (2)

ˈled 

1

: a soft, heavy, metallic element with atomic number 82 found mostly in combination and used especially in alloys, batteries, and shields against sound, vibration, or radiation

—often used before another noun

lead pipes

This capsule was sealed in a tungsten wheel the size of a tricycle tire, which was then placed behind thick lead shielding.

—Sandra Blakeslee

see Chemical Elements Table

2

a

: a plummet for sounding at sea

b

leads plural, British : a usually flat lead roof

c

leads plural : lead framing for panes in windows

d

: a thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing

3

a

: a thin stick of marking substance (such as graphite) in or for a pencil

b

: white lead

4

: bullets, projectiles

5

: tetraethyl lead

lead

5 of 5

verb (2)

ˈled 

leaded; leading; leads

transitive verb

1

: to cover, line, or weight with lead (see lead entry 4)

2

: to fix (window glass) in position with leads

3

: to put space between the lines of (typeset matter)

4

: to treat or mix with lead or a lead compound

leaded gasoline

Phrases

lead one down the garden path or less commonly lead one up the garden path

: hoodwink, deceive

I'd rather he be disappointed with the truth rather than lead him down the garden path

—Harold Robbins

Did you know?

When to Use Lead or Led

There is some persistent confusion about lead and led. Or, we should say, there is confusion about the leads and led. Lead is both a noun and a verb, as most people know. There are several unrelated nouns spelled lead: one most commonly refers to a metal (as in, "The paint was made with lead"), and the other most commonly refers to a position of advantage (as in, "Our team was in the lead"). The verb lead is pronounced /LEED/, with a long e; the noun that refers to a position or advantage is also pronounced /LEED/, with a long e; the noun that refers to the metal, however, is pronounced /LED/, with a short e. To this moderately convoluted situation, add the past tense and past participle of the verb lead, which is led and pronounced like the metal noun lead with a short e. The homophonic confusion leads to homographic confusion, and you will therefore occasionally see lead in constructions where led is called for (as in, “She lead the ducklings to safety” instead of “She led the ducklings to safety”). The correct past and past participle of lead is spelled led. If you aren’t sure whether to use led or lead as the verb in your sentence, try reading it aloud to yourself. If the verb is pronounced /LED/, use led.

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• steer
• guide
• accompany

Noun (1)

• principal
• star

Adjective

• leading
• commanding
• chief
• presiding
• top
• foremost
• supreme
• first
• senior
• primary
• principal
• high

Choose the Right Synonym for lead

guide, lead, steer, pilot, engineer mean to direct in a course or show the way to be followed.

guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers.

guided the scouts through the cave

lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order.

led his team to victory

steer implies an ability to keep to a course and stresses the capacity of maneuvering correctly.

steered the ship through a narrow channel

pilot suggests guidance over a dangerous or complicated course.

piloted the bill through the Senate

engineer implies finding ways to avoid or overcome difficulties in achieving an end or carrying out a plan.

engineered his son's election to the governorship

Examples of lead in a Sentence

Verb (1)

an enthusiastic docent led our group through the art museum

a senior programmer is leading the team that is developing the new accounting software

the local high school's marching band led the parade

this old road leads to an abandoned quarry

the salesclerk led us through the maze of options now available to television buyers

Noun (1)

the actor's career has really taken off since he became the lead in that prime-time drama

the runner maintained a lead of several meters all the way around the track

my sister got a lead on the job opening from her neighbor, who is the human resources director for the company

the police are now working on several leads generated by the evidence gathered at the crime scene

Adjective

the lead diplomat is responsible for making policy for the entire embassy

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Recruiting a coalition of Greeks to get Helen back from Troy, Menelaus and his brother lead a war that lasts ten years. —Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, has led the Fortune 500 Europe since its debut in 2023, but economic stagnation is starting to take a toll. —Adam Gale, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025

Noun

Hundreds more members of law enforcement –– local, state and federal –– worked the case, at one point searching more than 500 homes and 1,000 vehicles and chasing hundreds of leads. —Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025

The Ravens uploaded a highlight clip of Henry's big touchdown play, which arrived in the second quarter and gave Baltimore the lead. —Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025

Adjective

This year, the US Food and Drug Administration established new guidance on limits of lead content in baby food. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025

He's also known for his lead role in Numb3rs. —Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1), Noun (1), and Adjective

Middle English leden, from Old English lǣdan; akin to Old High German leiten to lead, Old English līthan to go

Noun (2) and Verb (2)

Middle English leed, from Old English lēad; akin to Middle High German lōt lead

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Adjective

1679, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing lead

• co-lead
• extension lead
• follow someone's lead
• gain the lead
• get the lead out
• go down like a lead balloon
• go over like a lead balloon
• have/hold the lead
• in the lead
• lead acetate
• lead a charmed life
• lead a double life
• lead anywhere
• lead arsenate
• lead azide
• lead by example
• lead carbonate
• lead chromate
• lead dioxide
• lead foot
• lead-free
• lead glass
• lead-in
• lead line
• lead monoxide
• lead nowhere
• lead off
• lead on
• lead one's own life
• lead oxide
• lead pencil
• lead-pipe
• lead poisoning
• lead (someone) a merry chase
• lead (someone) a (merry) dance
• lead someone (around) by the nose
• lead (someone) down/up the garden path
• lead story
• lead sulfide
• lead the/one's eye to
• lead the pack/field
• lead the way
• lead the world
• lead time
• lead to
• lead to believe
• lead to the altar
• lead up
• lead up to
• lead with
• red lead
• sing/play lead
• take the lead
• tetraethyl lead
• white lead

Rhymes for lead

• bed
• bled
• bread
• bred
• dead
• dread
• ed
• fed
• fled
• ged
• head
• led

Kids Definition

lead

1 of 5 verb

ˈlēd 

led ˈled  ; leading

ˈlēd-iŋ

1

a

: to guide especially by going in advance : conduct

b

: to direct on a course or in a direction

c

: to serve as a channel for

d

: to lie, go, or open in a specified direction

the path leads uphill

study leading to a degree

2

: to go through : live

lead a quiet life

3

a

: to direct the activity of : manage, direct

lead an orchestra

lead a campaign

b

: to be first or best in

lead the league

also : begin sense 1, open

c

: to be ahead of

led their opponents by 20 points at the end of the third quarter

lead

2 of 5 noun

1

a

: position at the front : leadership

b

: example sense 1, precedent

c

: an amount or distance ahead

2

: indication sense 2, clue

3

: a principal role in a play

also : one who plays such a role

4

: a beginning section of a news story

also : a news story of chief importance

5

: the first in a series

also : the right to be first

6

: an insulated electrical conductor

7

: a position taken by a base runner off a base toward the next

lead

3 of 5 adjective

: acting or serving as a lead or leader

lead guitarist

lead

4 of 5 noun

ˈled 

1

: a soft bluish white heavy metallic element that is found mostly in combination with other elements, is easily shaped, and is used especially in pipes, cable coverings, batteries, solder, and radiation shields see element

2

a

: a mass of lead used on a line for finding the depth of water (as in the ocean)

b

plural : lead framing for glass (as in windows)

3

: a thin stick of marking substance (as graphite) in or for a pencil

4

: bullets in quantity

5

: tetraethyl lead

lead

5 of 5 verb

ˈled 

leaded; leading

1

: to cover, line, or weight with lead

2

: to fix (window glass) in position with lead

3

: to treat or mix with lead or a lead compound

leaded gasoline

Etymology

Verb

Old English lǣdan "to lead"

Noun

Old English lēad "the metal lead"

Medical Definition

lead

1 of 2 noun

ˈlēd 

: a flexible or solid insulated conductor connected to or leading out from an electrical device (as an electroencephalograph)

lead

2 of 2 noun

ˈled 

often attributive

1

: a heavy soft malleable ductile plastic but inelastic bluish white metallic element found mostly in combination and used especially in pipes, cable sheaths, batteries, solder, and shields against radioactivity

—symbol Pb see Chemical Elements Table

2

: white lead

3

: tetraethyl lead

Legal Definition

lead

1 of 2 transitive verb

led; leading

: to suggest the desired answer to (a witness) by asking leading questions

lead

2 of 2 noun

: something serving as a tip, indication, or clue

the police have only one lead in the murder investigation