leading 1 of 2

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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
In addition to her fashion business, Doble serves as an ambassador for Project Zero, leading initiatives focused on coral reef conservation and sustainable fashion practices. Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025 Her appointment comes at a time where, amid a flurry of changes among industry leadership, few women have been charged with leading menswear divisions. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
Lurie has often credited Roseman for his role in leading the franchise into a golden era that has included three Super Bowl appearances since 2017, and two victories. Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2025 Many view these moves, however, as part of a broader effort to ease regulatory friction around the Stargate build-out OpenAI is leading. Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leading
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leading
Adjective
  • Cebu is also one the country’s main tourist centers.
    Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Most of the money was poured into three main super PACs, both pro-Cuomo and anti-Mamdani.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The World Series continues with Game 6 as the Dodgers look to take a commanding 3-1 lead.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Taylor opted to go sans top beneath the jacket, heightening the commanding sensual style.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • While Hudson dressed up in her clever attire, Belichick spent Halloween guiding his UNC Chapel Hill football players during their away game against Syracuse University.
    Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
  • Equity is a guiding principle in the district’s Rebuilding Stronger plan, which seeks to stabilize IPS enrollment and finances while also providing more educational opportunities to students of color.
    Amelia Pak-Harvey, IndyStar, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Wait for 30 minutes after the final lightning or thunder before heading outside again.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
  • With its proximity to the Caribbean Sea, the area is a popular transit hub for cocaine making its way from Colombia to Trinidad and other Caribbean islands before heading to Europe.
    NPR, NPR, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • On Tuesday, Israeli volunteers with RHR were injured while accompanying Palestinian farmers in the town of Qarawat Bani Hassan.
    Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Dakota Johnson, a Valentino ambassador who also stars in the campaign, sung McRae's praises in an accompanying essay.
    Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The deadline for extending the qualifying offer is Thursday.
    Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • But the measure stalled in the Senate, where Democrats have demanded provisions extending Affordable Care Act insurance plan subsidies that will expire at the end of the year, causing premiums in ACA plans to soar.
    Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The end result promptly went viral on TikTok, with thousands of people commenting on videos showing the cast’s bows on Saturday at the Savoy Theatre in London.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The user shared another clip in the thread that followed, showing the G1 breaking into a room like a burglar, shattering a glass door.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Graham is the lead author of a study about the unprecedented phenomenon that published Tuesday in the journal Nature Astronomy.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Andrew Bean, a researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute and another lead author of the study, concurred that even reputable benchmarks are too often blindly trusted and deserve more scrutiny.
    Jared Perlo, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Leading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leading. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

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