1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in commands
to serve as leader of
a senior programmer is leading the team that is developing the new accounting software
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
5
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of leads
Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
McMillan, as Dowdle recited from memory, leads all rookies in receiving yards with 1,014.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2026
Singh leads the cast, with Akshaye Khanna playing the antagonist.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
Pearsall leads San Francisco with eight catches on throws at least 20 yards downfield.
—CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Wanaka Mountain Guides leads multi-day expeditions to the bucket-list summits of Mount Cook (New Zealand’s highest peak at 12,217 feet) and Mount Aspiring (a respectable 9,950-feet).
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 7 Jan. 2026
New York storyteller Laura Sims leads workshops and performs stories on Saturday and Sunday during the Atlanta Jewish Storytelling Festival at The Breman.
—Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Zegras, acquired for pennies on the dollar, leads the Flyers in scoring and is on pace for 80 points.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Pierce Walsh leads a group of returning tight ends for 2026.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Jan. 2026
Exploring an eager case of codependency, and later on, a heartbreaking instance of growing apart, a film like this requires utmost chemistry between the co-leads, an occasion Duggan and Clear rise to with ease.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 24 Jan. 2026
Organizers provided contact numbers for local leads and noted that both pop-up protests would unfold along public sidewalks.
—Kiah Collier, Austin American Statesman, 24 Jan. 2026
Blowing double-digit leads has been a habit with the Clippers (20-24) lately, and in Lue’s case over the past six seasons.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth.
—Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 22 Jan. 2026
In the wake of her murder -- and without forensic evidence or new leads -- hundreds of Black men were detained and interrogated, according to The Innocence Project.
—Deena Zaru, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2026
The dearth of investigators identified in the report factored into the agency’s ability to fully investigate potential leads, including those that pointed to Devastating Pyrotechnics before the tragedy.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Last year, police released stills from surveillance footage of the shooting in an attempt to generate leads.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
Loveland, who played collegiately at Michigan, leads the Bears with 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns.
—Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
McMillan, as Dowdle recited from memory, leads all rookies in receiving yards with 1,014.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2026
Singh leads the cast, with Akshaye Khanna playing the antagonist.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
Pearsall leads San Francisco with eight catches on throws at least 20 yards downfield.
—CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Wanaka Mountain Guides leads multi-day expeditions to the bucket-list summits of Mount Cook (New Zealand’s highest peak at 12,217 feet) and Mount Aspiring (a respectable 9,950-feet).
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 7 Jan. 2026
New York storyteller Laura Sims leads workshops and performs stories on Saturday and Sunday during the Atlanta Jewish Storytelling Festival at The Breman.
—Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Zegras, acquired for pennies on the dollar, leads the Flyers in scoring and is on pace for 80 points.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Pierce Walsh leads a group of returning tight ends for 2026.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
None of those leads panned out until 1902 when new evidence placed the fugitive in Nome, Alaska, part of Klondike gold rush.
—Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Jan. 2026
Exploring an eager case of codependency, and later on, a heartbreaking instance of growing apart, a film like this requires utmost chemistry between the co-leads, an occasion Duggan and Clear rise to with ease.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 24 Jan. 2026
Organizers provided contact numbers for local leads and noted that both pop-up protests would unfold along public sidewalks.
—Kiah Collier, Austin American Statesman, 24 Jan. 2026
Blowing double-digit leads has been a habit with the Clippers (20-24) lately, and in Lue’s case over the past six seasons.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth.
—Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 22 Jan. 2026
In the wake of her murder -- and without forensic evidence or new leads -- hundreds of Black men were detained and interrogated, according to The Innocence Project.
—Deena Zaru, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2026
The dearth of investigators identified in the report factored into the agency’s ability to fully investigate potential leads, including those that pointed to Devastating Pyrotechnics before the tragedy.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Last year, police released stills from surveillance footage of the shooting in an attempt to generate leads.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leads
Verb
-
The lifestyle and luxury executive, who joined Trudon in March 2025, also steers the creative strategy of its sister company Carrière Frères, a French interior fragrance brand.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Toyota steers through rough terrain Economic uncertainty and inflation made 2025 a tough year for new-car sales.—
Matthew Heimer,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For example, just six countries account for roughly two-thirds of mining production, and China alone commands about 40% of global smelting capacity.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Privately, however, sources described a violent struggle over control of the military— who commands it, who coordinates it — and who may soon deploy it against internal rivals.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Koma shared the photo of Tisdale French that accompanies her Cut essay, but with his head superimposed onto her body.—
Kase Wickman,
Vanity Fair,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Kiyan has never shied from the spotlight that accompanies his dad.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The lane – one used to absorb traffic during construction work – extends from just north of Paddock Road to State Route 562, also known as the Norwood Lateral.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Support sits at $245, while resistance is near $260 and extends to $265.—
Nishant Pant,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The company now guides 2026 capital expenditures, including finance leases, of roughly $115–$135 billion, placing it among the largest single-year capex spenders in the AI and hyperscaler universe.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
-
That same human centric values-first posture guides how Ingka evaluates partners.—
Keith Ferrazzi,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Salesforce is also backing the project, and its subsidiary Slack was integral to the production, principals said.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Indiana lawmakers advanced a bill that would allow teachers and principals to display the Ten Commandments in school classrooms more easily — drawing concerns about the separation of church and state.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Instead of dotting the same black scrim, like pinholes in a two-dimensional theater backdrop, the stars were scattered through space at dramatically varying distances, a vast swarm of them filling every last corner of an even vaster, more numinous, and emphatically three-dimensional darkness.—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Next the team wants to infer the various distances of the structures that the researchers have glimpsed and to use them to make the map more dynamic and three-dimensional.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In fact, upon check-in, your butler is alerted to your arrival and waits outside your room with a welcome drink, warm towel, and handy tips on navigating your room.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Here, chefs and entertaining experts share tips for creating a date night at home that feels effortless, seductive, and entirely your own.—
Erin Bunch,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leads. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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