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
Studios with a deal for FilmRise, a leading indie distributor of digital streaming content. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 1 July 2025 Fortune helped edit the autobiography of leading Black intellectual Booker T. Washington, and his civil rights organization, National Afro-American League, is considered an important predecessor to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 23 June 2025
Adjective
The lead actors are not among those still owed money. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 11 July 2025 Larger-scale artificial intelligence deals are accelerating, lead analyst Dan Ives wrote in a note to clients Thursday. Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for lead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lead
Verb
  • This level of confidence from Oakley is helping steer their vision of the future with the help of innovators like Meta AI, Axiom Space, and Travis Scott.
    Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • The more plausible option is development on the Gulf side, which could be steered westward along the northern Gulf Coast, the weather forecast company stated.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • The rapid revolution occurring in artificial intelligence today bears striking resemblance to the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s, when countless companies commanded silly valuations while some genuinely great businesses suffered brutal punishment in the stock market.
    Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • This year, Netflix commanded 120, ranking second among platforms and up from last year’s 107 noms.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • The black paint on accompanying bicycle pumps also exceeded federal lead limits for paint.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
  • He was accompanied on his visit by Texas Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, members of his Cabinet and other Texas lawmakers.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • The Monday night downpour went viral on social media after the rain inundated the 28th St. station on the No. 1 subway train, causing major late-night delays.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025
  • New Hampshire law even goes a step further to prohibit deepfakes of any kind that cause reputational harm, including deepfakes of political candidates.
    Angela Eichhorst, Hartford Courant, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Let the repeats guide readers’ attention, especially in moments when emotions are building.
    Renae Gregoire, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • System prompts The system prompt – instructions provided before every conversation – guides behaviour once the model is deployed.
    CBS News, CBS News, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Cedrick Gray, who was one of the principals Cassellius oversaw at that time, talked about how Cassellius, along with the district’s then-superintendent, Carol Johnson, brought a burst of energy to the district’s middle schools.
    Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 15 July 2025
  • Even Bloomberg tried it but his penchant for micro-managing through quantitative measures and punitive accountability created top-down priorities tying the hands of all but the most forceful principals.
    David Bloomfield, New York Daily News, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • Amateurs and professionals of the Dock Dogs National Canine Aquatic Competition went the distance to see which canines could make the longest jump.
    Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
    Mike Stunson July 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • Have any news tips or story ideas about the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona?
    Raphael Romero Ruiz, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025
  • My tip is to go beyond internet research—personally connect with potential clients to understand their mission-critical needs.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lead. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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