lead

1 of 5

verb (1)

led ˈled How to pronounce lead (audio) ; 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 mouthErle 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 storyRichard 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)

1
a(1)
: leadership
look to the president for a unifying leadD. 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
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

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

lead

4 of 5

noun (2)

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
4
5

lead

5 of 5

verb (2)

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 pathHarold 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.

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
Adjective
Mike Marino, the makeup whiz who turned Colin Farrell into Oz Cobb for The Batman and The Penguin, as well as Sebastian Stan into the lead of A Different Man, previously molded an early look for the Wolf Man transformation design back when Gosling was once on board for the lead role. Nick Romano, EW.com, 17 Oct. 2024 This season, however, one highly visible analyst, who happens to be the lead color commentator for Fox Sports, broadcaster of this season’s Super Bowl, can’t partake in this valuable pre-game reporting process. Sean Gregory, TIME, 17 Oct. 2024 Even better, Apurva Sanghi, the World Bank’s lead economist for Malaysia, thinks the country could hit high-income status by 2028 if reforms continue (and with a bit of luck). Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Asia, 17 Oct. 2024 As each of her three singles peaked within the Hot 100’s top three slots at the end of August, Grande became the second woman in the history of the chart (alongside Adele) to maintain three tracks simultaneously in the top 10 as a lead artist. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lead 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lead.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of lead was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near lead

Cite this Entry

“Lead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

lead

1 of 5 verb
led ˈled How to pronounce lead (audio) ; 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
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
c
: an amount or distance ahead
2
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
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

lead

5 of 5 verb
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
: a flexible or solid insulated conductor connected to or leading out from an electrical device (as an electroencephalograph)

lead

2 of 2 noun
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
3

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

More from Merriam-Webster on lead

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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