Synonyms of lead

lead 1 of 3

verb

ˈlēd 

1

as in to steer

to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front

an enthusiastic docent led our group through the art museum

Synonyms & Similar Words

• steer
• guide
• accompany
• show
• route
• direct
• conduct
• usher
• escort
• pilot
• precede
• marshal
• manage
• see
• attend
• control
• chaperone
• convoy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• follow
• trail
• tail
• dog
• shadow
• hound
• tailgate

2

as in to command

to serve as leader of

a senior programmer is leading the team that is developing the new accounting software

Synonyms & Similar Words

• command
• captain
• spearhead
• head
• boss
• oversee
• control
• dominate
• direct
• manage
• supervise
• handle
• regulate
• govern
• run
• superintend

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• follow
• serve
• submit (to)
• comply (with)
• obey
• yield (to)
• bow (to)
• defer (to)

3

as in to accompany

to be at the front of

the local high school's marching band led the parade

Synonyms & Similar Words

• accompany
• precede
• attend
• announce
• head
• escort
• usher
• herald

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stop
• end
• conclude
• finish
• terminate
• follow
• tail
• dog
• trail
• tailgate

4

as in to go

to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction

this old road leads to an abandoned quarry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• go
• extend
• run
• lie
• head
• cross
• pass
• cut
• follow
• bear
• course
• span
• traverse

5

as in to guide

to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed

the salesclerk led us through the maze of options now available to television buyers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• guide
• accompany
• show
• steer
• coach
• teach
• inform
• mentor
• counsel
• walk through
• pilot
• escort
• train
• shepherd
• tutor
• supervise
• engineer
• direct
• sway
• see
• oversee
• attend
• enlighten
• instruct
• foster
• drill
• brief
• superintend
• chaperone
• inculcate
• school
• convoy
• godfather
• nurture
• cultivate
• squire
• indoctrinate

lead

2 of 3

noun

ˈlēd 

1

as in principal

the person who has the most important role in a play, movie, or TV show

the actor's career has really taken off since he became the lead in that prime-time drama

Synonyms & Similar Words

• principal
• star
• headliner
• superstar
• leading man
• leading lady
• star turn
• starlet
• ingenue
• costar
• coprincipal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extra
• supernumerary

2

as in distance

the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects

the runner maintained a lead of several meters all the way around the track

Synonyms & Similar Words

• distance
• width
• remove
• way
• length
• spacing
• stretch
• spread
• height
• area
• space
• rise
• extension
• throw
• reach
• extent
• volume
• scope
• depth
• range
• breadth
• drop
• sweep
• cast
• altitude
• flight
• shot
• fall
• clearance
• haul
• berth

3

as in tip

a piece of advice or useful information especially from an expert

my sister got a lead on the job opening from her neighbor, who is the human resources director for the company

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tip
• advice
• recommendation
• suggestion
• instruction
• pointer
• direction
• assistance
• hint
• sign
• guidance
• solution
• feedback
• signal
• warning
• prompt
• answer
• counsel
• brief
• observation
• advisement
• clue
• reminder
• cautioning
• tip-off
• caution
• urging
• telltale

4

as in cue

a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation)

the police are now working on several leads generated by the evidence gathered at the crime scene

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cue
• indication
• clue
• hint
• suggestion
• sign
• idea
• inkling
• suspicion
• intimation
• glimpse
• breath
• mention
• implication
• evidence
• wind
• inference
• tip
• inspiration
• key
• whiff
• signal
• scent
• assistance
• prompt
• hunch
• allusion
• glimmer
• flicker
• token
• intuition
• pointer
• nod
• guidepost
• insinuation
• presage
• harbinger
• innuendo
• symptom
• notion
• feeling
• premonition
• foretaste
• omen
• denotation
• wink
• overtone
• mark
• portent
• telltale
• tip-off
• presentiment
• foreboding
• foreshadower
• augury
• prefigurement

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• solution
• answer

lead

3 of 3

adjective

ˈlēd 

as in leading

highest in rank or authority

the lead diplomat is responsible for making policy for the entire embassy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leading
• commanding
• chief
• presiding
• top
• foremost
• supreme
• first
• senior
• primary
• principal
• high
• head
• in charge
• prime
• premier
• main
• preeminent
• supereminent
• managing
• high-level
• major
• overseeing
• supervisory
• predominant
• controlling
• dominant
• directing
• reigning
• paramount
• upper
• predominate
• sovereign
• ruling
• officiating
• superior
• uppermost
• ascendant
• topmost
• regnant
• grand
• upmost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• second
• less
• lower
• last
• secondary
• subordinate
• lesser
• ancillary
• subsidiary
• inferior
• lowly
• assisting
• assistant
• under
• junior
• deputy
• coadjutor

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb lead contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of lead are engineer, guide, pilot, and steer. While all these words mean "to direct in a course or show the way to be followed," lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order.

led his team to victory

When is engineer a more appropriate choice than lead?

The words engineer and lead can be used in similar contexts, but engineer implies finding ways to avoid or overcome difficulties in achieving an end or carrying out a plan.

engineered his son's election to the governorship

When might guide be a better fit than lead?

While in some cases nearly identical to lead, guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers.

guided the scouts through the cave

When would pilot be a good substitute for lead?

The words pilot and lead are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pilot suggests guidance over a dangerous or complicated course.

piloted the bill through the Senate

In what contexts can steer take the place of lead?

In some situations, the words steer and lead are roughly equivalent. However, steer implies an ability to keep to a course and stresses the capacity of maneuvering correctly.

steered the ship through a narrow channel

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lead

Verb

In a May 27 poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, Wood and Baldacci led the field with 23% and 22%, respectively, with Dunlap (17%) and Loud (14%) following. —Margie Cullen, USA Today, 9 June 2026

New York led 64-57 at the break. —Brian Mahoney, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

Adjective

An all-star film adaptation was released in 2002 with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger in the lead roles, alongside a superstar cast including Richard Gere, Taye Diggs, Christine Baranski and Queen Latifah as Mama Morton. —Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026

Schomburger joined the company in 2016 and most recently worked as the company’s lead independent director. —Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Phrases Containing lead

• lead off
• lead on
• lead one down the garden path
• lead one up the garden path