leading

1 of 2

adjective

lead·​ing ˈlē-diŋ 

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

leading

2 of 2

noun

lead·​ing ˈle-diŋ 

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

Synonyms of leading

Adjective

• main
• greatest
• highest
• primary
• dominant
• predominant
• foremost
• first
• big

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

Adjective

Along with a half-dozen other leading-edge American space outfits including Blue Origin, Axiom Space and Starlab Space, SpaceX has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA to develop orbital outposts that could host NASA and Allied astronauts through the next decades. — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

The blockbuster trade isn’t official yet, but the Miami Heat’s new leading duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo has already made a public appearance together. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026

Noun

And this is where one of the great differences between commanding and leading begins. — Jose Luis Gonzalez Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

Marshall also didn't read much into the 3-2 victory over Senegal in a friendly leading into the tournament. — ABC News, 10 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing leading

• leading article
• leading brand
• leading edge
• leading lady
• leading light
• leading man
• leading question
• leading tone

Rhymes for leading

• beading
• bleeding
• breeding
• ceding
• feeding
• heeding
• kneading
• needing
• pleading
• reding
• seeding
• speeding

Kids Definition

leading

adjective

lead·​ing ˈlēd-iŋ 

1

: coming or ranking first or among the first : foremost

2

: exercising leadership

3

: providing direction or guidance

a leading question