take the lead
idiom
1
: to take a position that is ahead of others : go first
You take the lead and we'll follow right behind you.
2
: to take the winning position in a race or competition
Her car has taken the lead.
Our team took the lead in the eighth inning.
—often used figurativelyTheir company has taken the lead in developing this new technology.
Examples of take the lead in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Momentum quickly shifted in the Chiefs’ favor, and Mahomes used all of it to take the lead.
—
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
As a result, the Lions are down two scores with under 10 minutes to go as opposed to being in position to take the lead with a touchdown.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2025
Both teams had runners on base and favorable chances to take the lead or win the game.
—The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
The whisky was aged in a variety of barrels, but the sherry casks used for this quarter-century maturation take the lead here.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take the lead
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Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025
As a result, the Lions are down two scores with under 10 minutes to go as opposed to being in position to take the lead with a touchdown.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2025
Both teams had runners on base and favorable chances to take the lead or win the game.
—The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
The whisky was aged in a variety of barrels, but the sherry casks used for this quarter-century maturation take the lead here.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take the lead
Cite this Entry
“Take the lead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20the%20lead. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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