Synonyms of leading

leading 1 of 2

adjective

ˈlē-diŋ 

1

as in main

coming before all others in importance

they are the leading suppliers of processed meat in the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

• main
• greatest
• highest
• dominant
• predominant
• primary
• foremost
• first
• big
• principal
• key
• chief
• central
• supreme
• premier
• paramount
• prior
• great
• overriding
• cardinal
• distinguished
• master
• top
• preeminent
• sovereign
• major
• number one
• capital
• overbearing
• No. 1
• grand
• primal
• outstanding
• eminent
• notable
• senior
• prestigious
• illustrious
• overmastering
• arch
• important
• influential
• sovran
• high-level
• noteworthy
• superior
• stellar
• numero uno
• signal
• renowned
• significant
• star
• famed
• famous
• unequalled
• mighty
• unparalleled
• momentous
• celebrated
• incomparable
• unequaled
• noble
• unsurpassed
• matchless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• least
• last
• minor
• slight
• negligible
• secondary
• insignificant
• trivial
• unimportant
• subordinate
• inferior
• collateral
• inconsequential
• trifling
• subsidiary
• inconsiderable

2

as in commanding

highest in rank or authority

served as the leading counsel on the defendant's legal team

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

leading

2 of 2

verb

present participle of lead

1

as in guiding

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

• guiding
• steering
• accompanying
• showing
• conducting
• directing
• ushering
• escorting
• routing
• marshalling
• preceding
• piloting
• marshaling
• managing
• attending
• controlling
• seeing
• chaperoning
• convoying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• trailing
• following
• tailing
• shadowing
• hounding
• dogging
• tailgating

2

as in heading

to serve as leader of

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• commanding
• heading
• captaining
• spearheading
• overseeing
• dominating
• controlling
• managing
• bossing
• directing
• supervising
• governing
• regulating
• handling
• running
• superintending

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• following
• serving
• submitting (to)
• yielding (to)
• obeying
• complying (with)
• bowing (to)
• deferring (to)

3

as in accompanying

to be at the front of

the local high school's marching band led the parade

Synonyms & Similar Words

• accompanying
• preceding
• attending
• heading
• announcing
• escorting
• ushering
• heralding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ending
• finishing
• stopping
• terminating
• concluding
• following
• trailing
• tailing
• tailgating
• dogging

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

• extending
• running
• going
• heading
• lying
• crossing
• following
• passing
• bearing
• cutting
• spanning
• traversing
• coursing

5

as in showing

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

• guiding
• showing
• coaching
• accompanying
• steering
• teaching
• shepherding
• escorting
• mentoring
• counselling
• tutoring
• walking through
• training
• piloting
• counseling
• supervising
• engineering
• directing
• swaying
• overseeing
• informing
• attending
• seeing
• convoying
• instructing
• drilling
• superintending
• godfathering
• fostering
• chaperoning
• enlightening
• briefing
• squiring
• inculcating
• indoctrinating
• schooling
• cultivating
• nurturing

Examples of leading in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The winner will score a leading role in the 2024 Hallmark Channel holiday movie Happy Howlidays. —EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024

The role marks the actor’s return to the big screen in a leading role in two years. —Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Oct. 2024

The seeds of discontentment within the ownership group began to spread as the month progressed, and The Athletic eventually reported Posey took a leading role in the negotiations with Chapman on his six-year, $151 million extension that was announced Sept. 5. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2024

CFOs should play a leading role in leveraging these opportunities. —Jim Deloach, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

Phrases Containing leading

• leading edge