lead
1 of 5verb (1)
ˈlēd 
led ˈled ; leading
; leading transitive verb
1
a
: to guide on a way especially by going in advance
led the officers to his hiding place
b
: to direct on a course or in a direction
a road leading the traveler to the heart of the city
c
: to serve as a channel for
a pipe leads water to the house
2
: to go through : live
lead a quiet life
3
a(1)
: to direct the operations, activity, or performance of
lead an orchestra
(2)
: to have charge of
lead a campaign
(3)
: to suggest to (a witness) the answer desired by asking leading questions
counsel is leading this witness, putting words in her mouth
Erle Stanley Gardner
Erle Stanley Gardner b(1)
: to go at the head of
lead a parade
(2)
: to be first in or among
lead the league
(3)
: to have a margin over
led his opponent
4
: to bring to some conclusion or condition
led to believe otherwise
5
: to begin play with
lead trumps
6
a
: to aim in front of (a moving object)
lead a duck
b
: to pass a ball or puck just in front of (a moving teammate)
intransitive verb
1
a
: to guide someone or something along a way
You lead and we'll follow.
b
: to lie, run, or open in a specified place or direction
path leads uphill
c
: to guide a dance partner through the steps of a dance
2
a
: to be first
This state leads in population.
b(1)
: begin, open
will lead off with a Christmas story Richard Bissell
Richard Bissell (2)
: to play the first card of a trick, round, or game
3
: to tend toward or have a result
study leading to a degree
4
: to direct the first of a series of blows at an opponent in boxing
lead
2 of 5noun (1)
ˈlēd
1
a(1)
: leadership
look to the president for a unifying lead D. W. Brogan
D. W. Brogan (2)
: example, precedent
followed the lead of the majority leader in voting
b(1)
: position at the front : vanguard
The runner from Kenya was in the lead for most of the race.
(2)
: initiative
took the lead in fighting the measure
(3)
: the act or privilege of playing first in a card game
Your partner has the lead.
also : the card or suit played first
His lead was the ace.
c
: a margin or measure of advantage or superiority or position in advance
enjoys a good lead over all competitors
2
: one that leads: such as
a
: lode sense 2
b
: a channel of water especially through a field of ice
c
: indication, clue
The detectives had a few leads to follow.
d
: a principal role in a dramatic production
She was the romantic lead in the movie.
also : one who plays such a role
e
: leash sense 1
train a dog to walk on a lead
f(1)
: an introductory section of a news story : lede
edit the lead to grab the reader's attention
(2)
: a news story of chief importance
The story of his arrest was the lead in newspapers across the country.
3
: an insulated electrical conductor connected to an electrical device
4
: the course of a rope from end to end
5
: the amount of axial (see axial sense 2a) advance of a point accompanying a complete turn of a thread (as of a screw or worm)
6
: a position taken by a base runner off a base toward the next
The runner on first took a big lead.
7
: the first punch of a series or an exchange of punches in boxing
lead
3 of 5adjective
ˈlēd
: acting or serving as a lead (see lead entry 2) or leader
a lead article
lead
4 of 5noun (2)
ˈled
often attributive
1
: a soft, heavy, metallic element with atomic number 82 found mostly in combination and used especially in alloys, batteries, and shields against sound, vibration, or radiation see Chemical Elements Table
2
a
: a plummet for sounding at sea
b
leads plural, British : a usually flat lead roof
c
leads plural : lead framing for panes in windows
d
: a thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing
3
a
: a thin stick of marking substance (such as graphite) in or for a pencil
b
: white lead
4
: bullets, projectiles
5
: tetraethyl lead
lead
5 of 5verb (2)
ˈled
leaded; leading; leads
transitive verb
1
: to cover, line, or weight with lead (see lead entry 4)
2
: to fix (window glass) in position with leads
3
: to put space between the lines of (typeset matter)
4
: to treat or mix with lead or a lead compound
leaded gasoline
Phrases
lead one down the garden path or less commonly lead one up the garden path : hoodwink, deceive
I'd rather he be disappointed with the truth rather than lead him down the garden path Harold Robbins
Harold Robbins
Did you know?
When to Use Lead or Led
There is some persistent confusion about lead and led. Or, we should say, there is confusion about the leads and led. Lead is both a noun and a verb, as most people know. There are several unrelated nouns spelled lead: one most commonly refers to a metal (as in, "The paint was made with lead"), and the other most commonly refers to a position of advantage (as in, "Our team was in the lead"). The verb lead is pronounced /LEED/, with a long e; the noun that refers to a position or advantage is also pronounced /LEED/, with a long e; the noun that refers to the metal, however, is pronounced /LED/, with a short e. To this moderately convoluted situation, add the past tense and past participle of the verb lead, which is led and pronounced like the metal noun lead with a short e. The homophonic confusion leads to homographic confusion, and you will therefore occasionally see lead in constructions where led is called for (as in, “She lead the ducklings to safety” instead of “She led the ducklings to safety”). The correct past and past participle of lead is spelled led. If you aren’t sure whether to use led or lead as the verb in your sentence, try reading it aloud to yourself. If the verb is pronounced /LED/, use led.
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- conduct
- direct
- guide
- marshal
- marshall
- pilot
- route
- show
- steer
- usher
Noun (1)
- headliner
- principal
- star
Adjective
- chief
- commanding
- first
- foremost
- head
- high
- leading
- preeminent
- premier
- presiding
- primary
- prime
- principal
- supereminent
- supreme
- top
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective the lead diplomat is responsible for making policy for the entire embassy
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1), Noun (1), and Adjective
Middle English leden, from Old English lǣdan; akin to Old High German leiten to lead, Old English līthan to go
Noun (2) and Verb (2)
Middle English leed, from Old English lēad; akin to Middle High German lōt lead
First Known Use
Verb (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Adjective
1828, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing lead
Kids Definition
lead 1 of 3
verb
ˈlēd
led
ˈled
; leading 1
: to guide on a way often by going ahead
You lead and we will follow.
2
: to be at the head or front part of
She led the parade.
3
: to direct or guide the actions of
lead an orchestra
4
: to be best, first, or ahead
The champs led by 15 points.
5
: to go through : live
They lead a happy life.
6
: to reach or go in a certain direction
This road leads to town.
lead
2 of 3noun
1
: position at the front
He took the lead.
2
: the amount or distance that a person or thing is ahead
The team had a ten point lead.
3
: the main role in a movie or play
4
: something serving as an indication or clue Police followed their only lead.
5
: the first part of a news story
lead
3 of 3noun
ˈled
1
: a heavy soft gray metallic element that is easily bent and shaped
2
: a long thin piece of graphite used in pencils
3
: ammunition
a shower of lead
Medical Definition
lead 1 of 2
noun
ˈlēd
: a flexible or solid insulated conductor connected to or leading out from an electrical device (as an electroencephalograph)
lead
2 of 2noun
ˈled
often attributive
1
: a heavy soft malleable ductile plastic but inelastic bluish white metallic element found mostly in combination and used especially in pipes, cable sheaths, batteries, solder, and shields against radioactivity —symbol Pb see Chemical Elements Table
2
: white lead
3
: tetraethyl lead
Legal Definition
lead 1 of 2
transitive verb
led; leading
: to suggest the desired answer to (a witness) by asking leading questions
lead
2 of 2noun
: something serving as a tip, indication, or clue
the police have only one lead in the murder investigation
leads 1 of 2
verb
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
- steers
- guides
- accompanies
- directs
- shows
- conducts
- ushers
- routes
- precedes
- escorts
- marshals
- pilots
- marshalls
- sees
- manages
- attends
- chaperones
- controls
- convoys
- chaperons
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- follows
- trails
- tails
- shadows
- dogs
- hounds
- tailgates
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
- commands
- heads
- captains
- spearheads
- directs
- oversees
- dominates
- bosses
- manages
- controls
- supervises
- governs
- regulates
- handles
- runs
- superintends
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- follows
- serves
- obeys
- submits (to)
- yields (to)
- complies (with)
- bows (to)
- defers (to)
3
as in accompanies
to be at the front of the local high school's marching band led the parade Synonyms & Similar Words
- accompanies
- precedes
- announces
- attends
- heads
- escorts
- heralds
- ushers
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stops
- ends
- concludes
- terminates
- finishes
- follows
- tails
- trails
- dogs
- tailgates
4
as in extends
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction this old road leads to an abandoned quarry Synonyms & Similar Words
- extends
- goes
- runs
- lies
- heads
- follows
- crosses
- passes
- bears
- spans
- cuts
- traverses
- courses
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
- guides
- accompanies
- shows
- steers
- informs
- teaches
- coaches
- counsels
- mentors
- tutors
- walks through
- shepherds
- trains
- escorts
- directs
- supervises
- pilots
- sees
- engineers
- instructs
- sways
- oversees
- attends
- fosters
- enlightens
- chaperones
- nurtures
- inculcates
- godfathers
- convoys
- superintends
- cultivates
- schools
- squires
- drills
- briefs
- chaperons
- indoctrinates
leads
2 of 2noun
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
- principals
- stars
- headliners
- leading men
- leading ladies
- superstars
- star turns
- coprincipals
- starlets
- ingenues
- co-principals
- co-stars
- ingénues
- costars
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- extras
- supernumeraries
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
- distances
- removes
- stretches
- widths
- lengths
- spacings
- spreads
- heights
- ways
- spaces
- reaches
- rises
- falls
- areas
- sweeps
- throws
- depths
- extensions
- drops
- volumes
- casts
- altitudes
- ranges
- hauls
- flights
- clearances
- breadths
- shots
- scopes
- berths
- extents
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
- tips
- advice
- recommendations
- instructions
- suggestions
- pointers
- prompts
- hints
- signs
- signals
- solutions
- feedback
- observations
- guidance
- directions
- clues
- answers
- assistances
- warnings
- reminders
- counsel
- tip-offs
- advisements
- urgings
- cautions
- briefs
- telltales
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
- clues
- indications
- cues
- hints
- suggestions
- signs
- ideas
- inklings
- intimations
- mentions
- suspicions
- glimpses
- implications
- signals
- prompts
- winds
- whiffs
- evidences
- tips
- keys
- inferences
- glimmers
- inspirations
- presages
- feelings
- flickers
- breaths
- hunches
- scents
- allusions
- nods
- notions
- pointers
- insinuations
- guideposts
- symptoms
- intuitions
- assistances
- winks
- tokens
- overtones
- innuendos
- marks
- premonitions
- harbingers
- denotations
- telltales
- tip-offs
- presentiments
- foreshadowers
- foretastes
- innuendoes
- omens
- forebodings
- portents
- prefigurements
- auguries
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- solutions
- answers
- from here on out
- from humble origins
- from hunger
- from life
- from memory
- from minute to minute
- from moment to moment
- from natural causes
- from near and far
- from now on
- from now until doomsday
- from nowhere
- from of central casting
- from on high
- from one day to the next
- from one extreme to the other
- from one minute to the next
- from one moment to the next
- from out of nowhere
- from pillar to post
- from point a to point b
- from rags to riches
- from scratch
- from side to side
- from soup to nuts