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 figuratively

Their company has taken the lead in developing this new technology.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Immediate action is needed, and the Biden administration must take the lead. —Patrick Gaspard, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023

Mark Sears grabbed the late offensive rebound and Alabama had a chance late to tie or take the lead late. —Nick Alvarez | [e-mail], al, 4 Mar. 2023

In a tense, back-and-forth game during the final 10 minutes, Soares delivered the knockout after OSU missed a chance to take the lead. —oregonlive, 25 Feb. 2023

Trailing by two at the half, the Titans (13-8) opened the third quarter on a 13-0 run to take the lead, keyed by three triples from Ferreira, who finished with 14 points. —Mike Puzzanghera, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Feb. 2023

The White House has so far hesitated to take the lead on updating these regulations for fear of pushback from the rail industry. —Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 21 Feb. 2023

Dave Grohl, an 18-time Grammy winner, also went up to accept the award, but let his former colleague take the lead. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 5 Feb. 2023

The challenge was not only to raise awareness of what had been an arcane subject, but to take the lead with substantive action in pushing back against those who would weaponize Americans’ pension and investment dollars to advance a political agenda. —Derek A. Kreifels, National Review, 2 Feb. 2023

Greater Clevelanders are divided and largely unsure about who should take the lead on improving the lakefront in a cleveland.com-Baldwin Wallace poll. —Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 21 Dec. 2022

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