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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of leads
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
29 June 2026
Schwarber leads the majors in homers and is on pace to hit 58 this season, which would tie Ryan Howard’s franchise record set in 2008.
—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
29 June 2026
Antonelli leads by 41 points from Hamilton and 50 from Russell.
—
ABC News,
28 June 2026
The most notable is shortstop Otto Lopez, who leads the majors in batting average and is the only player in baseball to have reached 100 hits this season.
—
Tyler Carmona,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2026
Kerr leads wire-to-wire, closing with a 6-under 66 for a 19-under 269 total.
—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
Both teams went back-and-forth, trading leads throughout the fourth quarter.
—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
27 June 2026
Artisan’s company, The Attractive Man, also leads boot camps in Europe, Asia and Central America.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
My favorite bedroom is the one towards the back of the property, as even though the other has an en suite, this one has a door that leads directly to the garden.
—
Lucrezia Worthington,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 June 2026
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Were there any leads for Jodi Huisentruit's disappearance?
—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
27 June 2026
But the series’ two leads are not the only ones whose lives have been transformed by Jacob Tierney’s sports romance.
—
Emily Maskell,
IndieWire,
26 June 2026
Heath left Chicago with new information and leads.
—
Keith O’Brien,
New Yorker,
25 June 2026
But judging from this amuse-bouche, jury is still out on the romantic leads.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
The Netherlands twice lost leads in its 2-2 draw with Japan.
—
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
Any slight or catty-Housewives moment has a deeper meaning for her that always leads back to the hurt of Porsha’s rejection.
—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
29 June 2026
Schwarber leads the majors in homers and is on pace to hit 58 this season, which would tie Ryan Howard’s franchise record set in 2008.
—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
29 June 2026
Antonelli leads by 41 points from Hamilton and 50 from Russell.
—
ABC News,
28 June 2026
The most notable is shortstop Otto Lopez, who leads the majors in batting average and is the only player in baseball to have reached 100 hits this season.
—
Tyler Carmona,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2026
Kerr leads wire-to-wire, closing with a 6-under 66 for a 19-under 269 total.
—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
Both teams went back-and-forth, trading leads throughout the fourth quarter.
—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
27 June 2026
Artisan’s company, The Attractive Man, also leads boot camps in Europe, Asia and Central America.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
My favorite bedroom is the one towards the back of the property, as even though the other has an en suite, this one has a door that leads directly to the garden.
—
Lucrezia Worthington,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 June 2026
Noun
This view is shared by Olivier Coste at Château des Adouzes, who questions where the chase after lightness leads.
—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Were there any leads for Jodi Huisentruit's disappearance?
—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
27 June 2026
But the series’ two leads are not the only ones whose lives have been transformed by Jacob Tierney’s sports romance.
—
Emily Maskell,
IndieWire,
26 June 2026
Heath left Chicago with new information and leads.
—
Keith O’Brien,
New Yorker,
25 June 2026
But judging from this amuse-bouche, jury is still out on the romantic leads.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
The Netherlands twice lost leads in its 2-2 draw with Japan.
—
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leads
Verb
-
The system accelerates, brakes and steers the vehicle in the lane.
-
Smoked paprika, six cloves of garlic, fresh mint, and lemon juice create a smoky, citrusy, bright flavor combo that steers ordinary chicken breast into decidedly unexpected territory.
Verb
-
Known to get into the minutiae of coding himself, Andreou actively participates in building tools, with a vibrant personality that commands the room.
-
If forced to pick sides, a lot of people will choose Apple, which commands extraordinary consumer loyalty.
Verb
-
This reflection accompanies the release of Couture, a new film directed by Alice Winocour, in which Jolie stars as Maxine Walker, an American filmmaker who is diagnosed with breast cancer while in Paris on business.
-
The buzz that accompanies the reunion of a great band doesn’t last forever – think of that other influential Massachusetts alt-rock institution that came back in the mid-2000s, Pixies, and how that initial excitement has dwindled with each successive post-reunion album.
Verb
-
Tuesday’s ruling declares the case a class action and extends the order nationwide.
-
Leadership extends far beyond an intellectual and emotional endeavor.
Verb
-
Eder believed that American flags should be made in America, a philosophy that still guides the company today.
-
For a truly memorable half day on the island, book a session at Forge a Memory, where a blacksmith guides you through making your own knife.
Noun
-
The matter simmered until February 24, 1976, when the board, after one of its regular meetings, asked Irving Carroll and Ernest Valenze, the principals of Island Trees’ two high schools, to remove the books from the library shelves.
-
The district has already taken steps this year to try and lessen the deficit, including cutting its teaching staff and some assistant principals.
Noun
-
This causes a runaway nuclear explosion of such uniform brightness that it can be used to measure cosmic distances.
-
The fly doesn’t travel big distances and moves more frequently on infested livestock.
Noun
-
Here, then, are some tips for calling the IRS.
-
To stay safe while using fireworks, authorities offered several safety tips.
Cite this Entry
“Leads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leads. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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