Thesaurus

lead

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of lead

highest in rank or authority

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

Synonyms of lead

chief, commanding, first, foremost, head, high, leading, preeminent, premier, presiding, primary, prime, principal, supreme, top

Words Related to lead

high-level, senior

controlling, directing, managing, officiating, overseeing, regnant, reigning, ruling, supervisory

main, major, paramount, predominant, predominate, sovereign (also sovran)

ascendant (also ascendent), dominant, grand, superior, topmost, upmost, upper, uppermost

Phrases Synonymous with lead

in charge

Near Antonyms of lead

ancillary, inferior, last, less, lesser, lower, lowly, second, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary

assistant, assisting, coadjutor, deputy, junior, under

lead

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of lead

1 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 of lead

headliner, principal, star

Words Related to lead

leading lady, leading man

ingenue (or ingénue), starlet

Near Antonyms of lead

extra, supernumerary

2 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 of lead

distance, length, remove, spacing, spread, stretch, way

Words Related to lead

altitude, area, breadth, depth, height, rise, space, volume, width

extension, extent

cast, range, reach, scope, shot, sweep, throw

drop, fall, flight, haul

berth, clearance

3 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 of lead

hint, pointer, tip

Words Related to lead

advisement, assistance, counsel, guidance, recommendation, suggestion

caution, cautioning, sign, signal, telltale, tip-off, warning

brief, direction, feedback, instruction

4 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 of lead

clue, cue, hint, indication, inkling, intimation, suggestion

Words Related to lead

breath, flicker, glimmer, glimpse, mention, scent, whiff, wind

hunch, idea, inspiration, notion

allusion, implication, inference, innuendo, insinuation

assistance, nod, prompt, tip, tip-off, wink

feeling, foreboding, intuition, premonition, presentiment, suspicion

augury, foreshadower, foretaste, harbinger, omen, portent, prefigurement, presage, symptom

Near Antonyms of lead

answer, solution

lead

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of lead

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

An enthusiastic docent led our group through the art museum.

Synonyms of lead

conduct, direct, guide, marshal (also marshall), pilot, route, show, steer, usher

Words Related to lead

accompany, attend, chaperone (or chaperon), convoy, escort, see

control, manage

Near Antonyms of lead

dog, hound, shadow, tail, tailgate

Antonyms of lead

2 to serve as leader of

A senior programmer is leading the team that is developing the new accounting software.

Synonyms of lead

boss, captain, command, head, spearhead

Words Related to lead

control, dominate

direct, govern, handle, manage, oversee, regulate, run, superintend, supervise

Near Antonyms of lead

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

3 to be at the front of

The local high school's marching band led the parade.

Synonyms of lead

Words Related to lead

announce, herald

accompany, attend, escort, usher

Near Antonyms of lead

conclude, end, finish, stop, terminate

dog, follow, trail

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

This old road leads to an abandoned quarry.

Synonyms of lead

bear, extend, go, head, lie, run

Words Related to lead

cross, cut, pass

course, follow, span, traverse

5 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 of lead

coach, counsel, guide, mentor, pilot, shepherd, show, tutor

Words Related to lead

direct, engineer, steer, sway

accompany, attend, chaperone (or chaperon), convoy, escort, see, squire

oversee, superintend, supervise

brief, enlighten, inform

instruct, school, teach, tutor

inculcate, indoctrinate

cultivate, foster, nurture

Phrases Synonymous with lead

walk through

Synonym Discussion of lead

guide, lead, steer, pilot, engineer mean to direct in a course or show the way to be followed. guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers.

- guided the scouts through the cave

lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order.

- led his team to victory

steer implies an ability to keep to a course and stresses the capacity of maneuvering correctly.

- steered the ship through a narrow channel

pilot suggests guidance over a dangerous or complicated course.

- piloted the bill through the Senate

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

Learn More about lead

See words that rhyme with lead Dictionary: Definition of lead Medical Dictionary: Definition of lead Spanish Central: Translation of lead Nglish: Translation of lead for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lead for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lead

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