leading

1 of 2

adjective

lead·​ing ˈlē-diŋ 

1

: coming or ranking first : foremost

2

: exercising leadership

3

: providing direction or guidance

a leading question

4

: given most prominent display

the leading story

leading

2 of 2

noun

lead·​ing ˈle-diŋ 

plural leadings

1

: a covering or framework of lead

repaired the leading in the church's stained-glass windows

2

typography : the distance between a pair of adjacent lines in composed text

increased the leading after the header

a leading of 6 points

Synonyms of leading

Adjective

• main
• greatest
• highest
• primary
• dominant
• predominant
• foremost
• first
• big

Examples of leading in a Sentence

Adjective

a leading topic of conversation

Their family played a leading part in the settlement of the town.

the leading role in a major Hollywood movie

a leading citizen of the town

She's one of the leading authorities on the stock market.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Six years after the law's introduction, many leading activists, including pro-democracy former media tycoon Jimmy Lai, were imprisoned under it. — ABC News, 17 July 2026

Players such as Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez went from playing on the margins to taking a leading role in Argentina’s first World Cup triumph since 1986. — Phil Hay, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Noun

The helium signal extended well beyond the planet’s radius, which the researchers suggest is a sign that LHS 1140b has both a leading and a trailing tail of helium. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026

Further, the betting markets showing Newsom leading incorporate a wider electorate than Democratic primary polls. — Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing leading

• leading article
• leading brand
• leading edge
• leading lady
• leading light
• leading man
• leading question
• leading tone

Rhymes for leading

• beading
• bleeding
• breeding
• ceding
• feeding
• heeding
• kneading
• needing
• pleading
• reding
• seeding
• speeding

Kids Definition

leading

adjective

lead·​ing ˈlēd-iŋ 

1

: coming or ranking first or among the first : foremost

2

: exercising leadership

3

: providing direction or guidance

a leading question