LEADS Synonyms: 206 Similar and Opposite Words

leads 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of lead

as in steers

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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Relevance

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as in commands

to serve as leader of a senior programmer is leading the team that is developing the new accounting software

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as in accompanies

to be at the front of the local high school's marching band led the parade

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as in extends

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

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as in guides

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

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leads

2 of 2

noun

plural of lead

as in principals

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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as in distances

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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as in tips

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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as in clues

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

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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 leads

Verb

The platform CentraLife calls a centralized repository runs leads, calls, policy management, reporting, and compensation across CentraLife’s advisor network as one system. — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 The long gallery entry to this corner one-bedroom leads into the spacious living area with four oversize north- and east-facing windows and a pair of dueling chandeliers. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 24 Aug. 2026 The San Francisco Bay Area still leads in raw AI-specialist numbers and has a higher concentration of AI job postings overall (26%, versus 17% in New York). — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 Mizuhara, who leads the cast with Sprouse, will also appear in Takashi Miike’s untitled Kyoto film. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026 The 2015 action film, set in a post-apocalyptic desert wasteland, stars Theron as warrior Imperator Furiosa, who leads the daring escape of female prisoners from a tyrannical ruler. — Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 23 Aug. 2026 The Slovenian leads the general classification by 9 seconds from Van Aert, with Brennan another second behind in third. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026 In addition to the Billboard 200, the project also leads the Top Album Sales, Vinyl Albums and World Albums charts. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Unassuming in her affect and understated in her dress, with a shaggy blond bob, Marta greets me warmly and leads me from the basement parking area through an indoor landscape of light. — Gaby Wood, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026

Noun

The investigation continues to produce few public leads despite intensive efforts to find her. — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 Above all, a lifelong friendship blossomed between the two leads. — Daria Egidi, Vanity Fair, 23 Aug. 2026 That allowed Nixon to run up insurmountable leads in populous, urban counties, like Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, Hillsborough and Duval. — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026 Some accused the police of focusing too much on the parents and not investigating other leads. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026 These cameras are built to identify vehicle details that may help generate investigative leads, according to Flock’s website. — Taylor O'Connor 19, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026 Most vendors are trying to generate leads and support sales, but when companies outsource execution without defining the rules of representation, the brand begins showing up in places leadership never approved. — Emily Burroughs, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 There have been some close calls, with the closest being a 75-74 defeat in Game 2 of last season’s opening round, a game where Golden State held multiple large leads before succumbing late to a Minnesota comeback. — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026 Detectives were actively following up on leads Monday, but authorities had not publicly identified a suspect or released a description. — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leads

Verb

Second Dinner said once players choose a starter, the Draft Mode steers the choices to complementary cards, and they’re marked with archetypes.

— Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026
Instead, Gruver steers people toward solid-wood accent tables, side chairs, and case goods such as dressers and buffets.

— Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of steers

Verb

Big Ridley commands armies of extras, builds enormous sets and deploys cutting-edge visual effects to create places that no longer exist — or never did.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Alonso’s appointment marks the arrival of a coach who commands authority.

— George Edwards, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of commands

Verb

That level of integration removes much of the guesswork that traditionally accompanies resin printing.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026
Resistance training is also key to preventing the muscle loss that accompanies weight loss from GLP-1 medications, aging and recovering from injury.

— Linda M. Boland, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of accompanies

Verb

This design keeps wet dust and salt fog away from sensitive internal electronics, which extends the operational service life of the hardware to ten years and lowers maintenance requirements.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
Seniors search for alternatives The impact extends to older swimmers as well.

— Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of extends

Verb

Each of his musical pieces tells a story that guides the listener throughout the album, making each listen a unique journey.

— Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2026
Some guides damage coral colonies to make these tiny fish easier to show to visitors, but this image was captured by waiting patiently and allowing the animal to appear naturally.

— Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of guides

Noun

However, in what could be the first conversation between Ellison and Bonta since the AGs filed their now WGA joined antitrust action on July 13, there is hope on both sides that the principals can at least lower the temperature a tad.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 23 Aug. 2026
Ten campuses in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will have new principals this year.

— Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of principals

Noun

The approach, developed by a team led by researchers from York University in Toronto, could improve how humanoid robots judge distances, recognize object orientation, and navigate complex environments.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience.

— Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of distances

Noun

Sign up to get expert tips on the best of Southern California's beaches, trails, parks, deserts, forests and mountains in your inbox every Thursday.

— Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Shipping and tanker expert David Wech of Vortexa explains why and some tips to help navigate it.

— Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026