lead 1 of 3

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to command
to serve as leader of a senior programmer is leading the team that is developing the new accounting software

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to accompany
to be at the front of the local high school's marching band led the parade

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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5

lead

2 of 3

noun

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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

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4

lead

3 of 3

adjective

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

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.
Recent Examples of lead
Verb
Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with 10 total nominations in eight categories. Bryan West, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025 Your organization must not only keep pace but also strive to lead in delivering exceptional digital experiences. Mithun A. Sridharan, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
The lead content might be too high Quick Pick tickets took both Fantasy 5 drawings. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 15 May 2025 However, Ellen Pompeo, who was the lead star through season 19 as Dr. Meredith Grey, continues making sporadic appearances. Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for lead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lead
Verb
  • At that point, the chief engineer had also woken up and went to the control room to try and maneuver the ship while the skipper attempted to steer from the fly bridge.
    Greta Bjornson, People.com, 15 May 2025
  • Staying grounded in their business mission helps foster a sense of resiliency and will steer their business through uncertain times.
    AllBusiness, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Building access is about forming genuine connections with other influencers, thought leaders and gatekeepers who already command attention.
    John Knotts, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • Researchers led by Elise Wright Knutsen, an atmospheric physicist at the University of Oslo, waited for the right conditions and commanded Perseverance to look up at exactly the right time.
    Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • On Thursday morning, Ruth, a volunteer who asked not to be fully identified for fear of retaliation, accompanied an asylum seeker from Colombia to his court hearing — something volunteers have been doing for a long time to support migrants without legal representation.
    Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
  • Something Beautiful will be accompanied by a visual album, which is set to have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 6.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Since the video of their antics went viral, TikTok users can't get enough of their unconventional friendship.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
  • Under former Chair Gary Gensler, the SEC aggressively went after the crypto sector, with lawsuits and enforcement including against top crypto companies such as Coinbase.
    Rafael Nam, NPR, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • In other words, the engineers needed to keep the star tracker pointed as closely as possible to the guiding star while working.
    Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025
  • Others are interested in AI guiding a human through a conversation.
    Darius Tahir, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Italy expects a lot from the red team, and the replacement of Mattia Binotto with Frédéric Vasseur as team principal was supposed to result in Maranello challenging for championships.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2025
  • A good number of Brooklyn’s neighborhoods boast those traits, says Timothy Quinlan, principal of Quinlan Development Group.
    Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Our aim was to collapse the distance between the audience and the story.
    Jeryl Brunner, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
  • Through the Truist Championship, his average driving distance is 318.6 yards (320.2 yards in full 2024 season, 326.3 yards in full 2023 season) and his driving accuracy percentage is 51.80% (60.29% in full 2024 season, 53.25% in full 2023 season).
    Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • Waiters and those who get tips Tips would not be taxed if the bill passes.
    George Petras, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • Trump’s legislation, at more than 1,100 pages, would permanently extend his 2017 tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year while introducing new policies like tax exemptions for tips and overtime wages.
    Nik Popli, Time, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lead. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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