leading

1 of 2

adjective

lead·​ing ˈlē-diŋ How to pronounce leading (audio)
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 How to pronounce leading (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Thelma, Squibb’s first leading feature film role, became one of the biggest success stories at the specialty box office last year, earning over $12 million at the global box office and becoming the highest-grossing movie ever for distributor Magnolia over its two-decade history. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025 Edwards took a leading role in communicating with victims of the storm and making the case for Helene relief. Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2025
Noun
In her third varsity season, Higham is the Wildcats’ ace and leading hitter. Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025 Prioritizing Standardization: Embrace leading practices and standard processes across entities to prepare for a clean core and reduce customization needs. Rahul Bhatia, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for leading

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of leading was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leading.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leading. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

leading

adjective
lead·​ing ˈlēd-iŋ How to pronounce leading (audio)
1
: coming or ranking first or among the first : foremost
2
: exercising leadership
3
: providing direction or guidance
a leading question

More from Merriam-Webster on leading

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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