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 Saudis have since used the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which leads out of the Red Sea, for crude oil exports. — Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026 His more useful answer leads us to a sweeping new study of what creates successful entrepreneurs. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 Sep. 2026 The first in her role, Edison joined the league in 2022 and leads its global revenue strategy across its partnerships, events, digital and more. — Wwd Staff, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026 Senner leads a research laboratory at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, that is largely focussed on how migratory shorebirds, such as godwits, respond to environmental change. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026 Through two games, Underwood is averaging 5 yards per carry and leads the team with 134 rushing yards. — Austin Meek, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 The quartet join series leads Sophie Nélisse, Francesca Reale, and Roby Attal as well as fellow cast members Jordan Rodrigues, Jude Wilson, Natalie Brown, James Tupper, Tom Barnett, and Celia Owen. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026 Ashley Sanchez had a hat trick in North Carolina's 6-0 rout of the Stars (5-17-1) in Evanston, Illinois and now leads the league’s Golden Boot race with 18 goals. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026 Democrat James Talarico leads Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in the average of Texas Senate polls. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026

Noun

Still, the episode has little time to dwell on logical lapses because each scene gets its leads closer to an inevitable betrayal one way or another. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026 Pancho’s brothers pursued their own leads, at one point visiting a local leader of organized crime. — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 The Mara sisters play the leads in Herzog’s Bucking Fastard, as Jean and Joan Holbrooke, Irish sisters who speak, think and move in unison, share the same dreams and love the same man. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026 Traditional distinctions of marketing-qualified leads versus sales-qualified leads give way to measures of pipeline quality, conversion, and customer lifetime value. — Harvard Business Review, 4 Sep. 2026 The Dodgers had leads of 3-0, 5-2 and 5-4 before the Cardinals tied it in the eighth. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 Police said detectives are following leads provided by the victim. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026 The department, the suit claimed, failed to investigate leads in order to protect their officers. — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 Lee, Liddell and Dempsey are actively pursuing funding leads, including the city’s Retail Investment Fund-Grocery and Pharmacy Access Program and have met with city officials about the application. — April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leads

Verb

In the carousel of images, Yarmosky, 39, steers the boat and smiles as the pair enjoy some quality time together.

— Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
The approach does not have the same oversight, services or safeguards in place as the traditional foster care system, which also steers kids to live with family members.

— Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of steers

Verb

There, wisteria blooms on trellises, raspberries ripen on bushes, a cold-plunge pool commands sweeping views of downtown Manhattan—and a chicken coop looms in the corner.

— Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2026
The left brain, by contrast, commands language processing, and following a stroke to the left brain, a person can develop not only a communication disorder but often post-stroke depression as well.

— Michael P.H. Stanley, STAT, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of commands

Verb

Because the chase plane that accompanies the X-59 causes sonic booms of its own, any noise the X-59 has made (or not made) has so far been masked.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
In the film, Ma accompanies Bhutanese folk singer Kelden Lhamo on a song that was heard in Lunana.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of accompanies

Verb

Their devotion to knotty specifics of academia extends to casting a real-life academic — Anne-Laure Sellier, currently a professor of behavioral sciences at HEC Paris business school — in the lead.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Although the Eagles came up short on the scoreboard, head coach Irwin Garcia said the program’s focus extends beyond wins and losses.

— Raul Avila, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of extends

Verb

Stitt pushes and unloads the heavy cart while Bayless guides the way with their list, checking off household staples like bottled water, sugar and toilet paper.

— Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026
While players of the game control a hero named Link, Zelda guides the plot and sends him on quests.

— Sarah Scott, Parents, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of guides

Noun

It will perhaps be watched most closely, however, by the principals at Hugo Boss.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
Things could be better, which goes without saying in the aftermath of a flu pandemic that has wiped out most of the planet’s human population, but the four principals here could also be dead, so there’s that.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of principals

Noun

As part of the race’s 900 per cent participation increase in recent years, women like me—new to the sport and running shorter 6km and 12km distances—are the quickest growing group.

— Maryann Wright, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
Challenging down and distances, like a third-and-7, is when opposing defenses can bring extra rushers to get after the quarterback.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of distances

Noun

Do ask for staff suggestions on what to do in and around the area—our own itinerary was entirely guided by Troutbeck’s staff, and their tips were always spot on.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
That year, tips came into the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, according to an affidavit written by Carolyn Thompson, a special agent with the FBI.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026