led
ˈled 
; leading
; leading
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
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)
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
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
1
a(1)
: leadership
look to the president for a unifying lead—D. W. Brogan
D. W. Brogan
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
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
: acting or serving as a lead (see lead entry 2) or leader
a lead article
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
Sandra Blakeslee2
3
a
: a thin stick of marking substance (such as graphite) in or for a pencil
b
4
5
leaded; leading; leads
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
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.
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
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 15 May 2025
His lead envoy in the peace talks, Steve Witkoff, visited Putin in Moscow and, upon his return, publicly echoed many of the Kremlin’s arguments about the war.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 15 May 2025
Justin Ray, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Songs have to be original and no longer than three minutes, lead vocals must be performed live, there can be no live instrumentation, and no more than six performers can be onstage at a time during a performance.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 16 May 2025
Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
Donald Trump does not need to lead and govern this way.
—ABC News, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lead
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
The lead decision makers — Lacob, general manager Mike Dunleavy, assistant general manager Kirk Lacob — don’t plan a major shakeup, team sources said.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 15 May 2025
His lead envoy in the peace talks, Steve Witkoff, visited Putin in Moscow and, upon his return, publicly echoed many of the Kremlin’s arguments about the war.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 15 May 2025
Noun
Of the previous 35 PGA Championship winners, 34 were within six shots of the lead after the opening round.
—Justin Ray, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Songs have to be original and no longer than three minutes, lead vocals must be performed live, there can be no live instrumentation, and no more than six performers can be onstage at a time during a performance.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 16 May 2025
Verb
However, access is a steep and crumbling concrete staircase leading down to the river and boat tours.
—Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
Donald Trump does not need to lead and govern this way.
—ABC News, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lead
Cite this Entry
“Lead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lead
1 of 5 verb
led
ˈled
; leading
; 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
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 noun1
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 noun1
: 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
2 of 2 nounoften 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share