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
Daniels’ play, in particular, was a primary reason for Kansas still being in the game, but he wasn’t given one last chance to take the lead.
—
Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
With the Yankees hosting Toronto for a three-game set, this is the perfect time to take the lead in the division.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Briscoe gets by to take the lead once again, and the Legacy Motor Club duo of Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek run in third and fourth place, respectively.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take the lead
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Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
With the Yankees hosting Toronto for a three-game set, this is the perfect time to take the lead in the division.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Briscoe gets by to take the lead once again, and the Legacy Motor Club duo of Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek run in third and fourth place, respectively.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 1 Sep. 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 10 Sep. 2025.
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