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
Tied 1-1 halfway through a third period that felt like a next-goal-wins scenario thanks to superb goalie play from Hellebuyck and Canada’s Jordan Binnington, Canada looked poised to take the lead.
—
Chris Kudialis, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
The designer explains that integrating appliances behind kitchen cabinetry minimizes visual clutter and allows the room's architecture to take the lead.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
Lorena Gonzalez, who wrote AB 218 in 2019 before leaving the Legislature to head up the California Federation of Labor Unions, said lobbying firms had been urging unions recently to take the lead on convincing the Assembly to change the law.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
The Italians managed to take the lead by almost 2 full seconds in the final lap to the roars of the home crowd.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for take the 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.
Chris Kudialis, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026
The designer explains that integrating appliances behind kitchen cabinetry minimizes visual clutter and allows the room's architecture to take the lead.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
Lorena Gonzalez, who wrote AB 218 in 2019 before leaving the Legislature to head up the California Federation of Labor Unions, said lobbying firms had been urging unions recently to take the lead on convincing the Assembly to change the law.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
The Italians managed to take the lead by almost 2 full seconds in the final lap to the roars of the home crowd.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
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 1 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
