(lead someone on) to encourage someone to do something or to expect something, especially by lying to them or promising them something that they cannot have
I hope he’s not justleading her on, because I’d hate to see her lookfoolish.
Synonyms and related words
To encourage someone to do or to not do something
encourage
persuade
convince
Synonyms and related words
To tell lies and deceive people
misspeak
deceive
make up
lead on
phrasal verb transitive
Other entries for this word
lead on to
Word Forms
present tense
I/you/we/they
lead on
he/she/it
leads on
present participle
leading on
past tense
led on
past participle
led on
DEFINITIONS1
1
(lead someone on) to encourage someone to do something or to expect something, especially by lying to them or promising them something that they cannot have
I hope he’s not justleading her on, because I’d hate to see her get hurt.