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
The move set the stage for Combs’ all-star defense team to take the lead.
—
Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025
Senators generally argue that Congress should take the lead on regulating AI, but so far the two parties have been unable to broker a deal that is acceptable to Republicans' and Democrats' divergent concerns.
—Arkansas Online, 7 June 2025
His game-winning shot with 0.3 seconds remaining in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday was the fifth time Haliburton made a shot to either take the lead or tie in the final five seconds, the most of any player in a single postseason in 27 years.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 7 June 2025
Lone travelers can benefit from having at least one destination in mind — a venue that can serve as a launching point before allowing curiosity, and Rome’s maze of streets and alleyways, to take the lead.
—Daliah Singer, Denver Post, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for take the lead
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Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025
Senators generally argue that Congress should take the lead on regulating AI, but so far the two parties have been unable to broker a deal that is acceptable to Republicans' and Democrats' divergent concerns.
—Arkansas Online, 7 June 2025
His game-winning shot with 0.3 seconds remaining in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday was the fifth time Haliburton made a shot to either take the lead or tie in the final five seconds, the most of any player in a single postseason in 27 years.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 7 June 2025
Lone travelers can benefit from having at least one destination in mind — a venue that can serve as a launching point before allowing curiosity, and Rome’s maze of streets and alleyways, to take the lead.
—Daliah Singer, Denver Post, 5 June 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 4 Jul. 2025.
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