1
: coming or ranking first : foremost
2
: exercising leadership
3
: providing direction or guidance
a leading question
4
: given most prominent display
the leading story
plural leadings
1
: a covering or framework of lead
repaired the leading in the church's stained glass windows
2
typography
: the distance between a pair of adjacent lines in composed text
increased the leading after the header
a leading of 6 points
Examples of leading in a Sentence
Adjective
a leading topic of conversation
Their family played a leading part in the settlement of the town.
the leading role in a major Hollywood movie
a leading citizen of the town
She's one of the leading authorities on the stock market.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
When Darren Criss picked up a Tony Award on Sunday night for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for his turn in Maybe Happy Ending, the veteran star became the third straight Glee alum to win a trophy on Broadway’s biggest night.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2025
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025
Jeanty surpassed Cedric Minter as the program’s all-time leading rusher this season and broke a number of other records Minter has held since at least 1980.
—Justin Williams, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for leading
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Adjective
But Hollywood can play a leading role in turning the tide.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
When Darren Criss picked up a Tony Award on Sunday night for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for his turn in Maybe Happy Ending, the veteran star became the third straight Glee alum to win a trophy on Broadway’s biggest night.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2025
Noun
Morejón also worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning before Robert Suarez extended his major-league leading saves total to 20 with a quick ninth.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025
Jeanty surpassed Cedric Minter as the program’s all-time leading rusher this season and broke a number of other records Minter has held since at least 1980.
—Justin Williams, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for leading
Cite this Entry
“Leading.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leading. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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