Definition of leadingnext
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leading

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verb

present participle of lead
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2
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as in accompanying
to be at the front of the local high school's marching band led the parade

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in extending
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction this old road leads to an abandoned quarry

Synonyms & Similar Words

5

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 leading
Adjective
Australian companies have taken a leading role in Brazil, accounting for 695 mining applications. ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 The World Health Organization lists schizophrenia among the top 10 leading causes of disability. Matthew Kurtz, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
Lynn replaced Alex Grinch, who was fired before finishing his second season leading a defense that was porous and poor, ranking as the 94th and 121st most generous defense in the nation in 2022 and ’23, respectively. Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 For example, a new Texas Southern University poll shows Talarico leading in congressional districts Trump won in 2024. Jay Stahl, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for leading
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leading
Adjective
  • The fourth-year pro with blazing speed had an impressive training camp and appeared to be one of the team’s main kick returners.
    Josh Kendall, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Its main instrument, known as the Wide Field Instrument (WFI), will take extremely wide images of the universe, capturing ultra-high definition views across broad swaths of the sky.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Kirkwood had a commanding lead before Palou's spin caused a caution.
    CBS News, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Adrián Marín set up the play with his pass to Tiago as Orlando took what seemed to be a commanding lead in the second half.
    Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • However, the company is now guiding to full-year constant-currency revenue growth of 11%, down from a previous range of 10% to 11%.
    Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • That spirit is the guiding force of the Together, Together Tour, which Styles acknowledged with praise for his loving fans.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Stock futures steadied as investors turned cautious ahead of Nvidia's earnings, which could set the tone for the AI trade heading into the fall.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
  • TelevisaUnivision‘s award show is heading to Marbella and recognizing the Spanish actor for his impact on education, social action, and community development.
    Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The 13-track project, which later came with accompanying music videos, became the blueprint for Beyoncé's superstar status after her successful debut studio album became the launchpad.
    Caché McClay, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Combined with less rainfall accompanying monsoon storms in recent years, that makes for dangerous flammability.
    Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Finally, market concerns are extending from trading mechanics to core fundamentals.
    , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Bobcats continued to build momentum when Johnson took another pass and turned it into a 50-yard touchdown, extending Benbrook’s lead to 36-29.
    Riley Ledesma, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • And with oil prices showing no sign of returning to pre-Iran war levels this year, pressure is increasing on the Fed to combat that sticky inflation by raising interest rates at its next policy-setting meeting in September.
    Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • An investor gazes at a share price board showing various stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on August 25, 2015.
    Justina Lee, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The primary comes as Trump attempts to brush off a string of primary losses, with his 10th endorsed candidate losing in last week’s elections.
    Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The primary hurdle moving forward is integrating efficient extraction technologies into existing treatment infrastructure to yield materials that meet industrial standards.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Leading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leading. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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