Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Having the leading position or higher score in a contest: Describes a person, team, or competitor who is currently first or winning.

2. Adverb:

   • Leading or ahead in a competition: Describes the action of being in first place or having an advantage during a contest or race.

Usage

• Adjective: Used after a linking verb like "is," "was," or "seems" to describe the status of a competitor.
• Adverb: Used to modify a verb or a clause, often describing how someone is performing in a race or competition.

Examples

• Adjective:

  • Our candidate is in the lead in the polls.
  • The home team was in the lead for most of the game.

• Adverb:

  • She finished the marathon in the lead.
  • The company started the quarter in the lead for market share.

Advanced Usage

• "To be in the lead": This is the most common structure, describing a state of leading.
  • Despite a strong start, they are no longer in the lead.
• "To go into the home stretch in the lead": An idiom from horse racing, meaning to enter the final part of a race while ahead.
  • The car went into the final lap in the lead.

Variants and Related Words

• Ahead (adj/adv): In a forward position; in advance. Often used interchangeably with "in the lead."
  • He is ahead in the competition.
• Out front (adj/adv, informal): Leading, especially by a clear margin.
  • Their technology is out front in the industry.
• Leading (adj): Most important or in first place.
  • She is the leading expert in her field.

Synonyms

• Ahead
• Winning
• Front-running
• Out in front

Related Phrases

• Take the lead: To move into the leading position.
  • She managed to take the lead in the final minutes.
• Hold the lead: To maintain a leading position.
  • The champion held the lead until the very end.
• Lose the lead: To fall from first place.
  • The team lost the lead after a critical error.

Related Idioms

• Out in front: Clearly leading or ahead of others.
  • Their new product put them out in front of their competitors.
• Ahead of the pack: Leading a group of competitors.
  • The startup is ahead of the pack in innovation.

Adjective

1. having the leading position or higher score in a contest
   • he is ahead by a pawn
   • the leading team in the pennant race

Adverb

1. leading or ahead in a competition
   • the horse was three lengths ahead going into the home stretch
   • ahead by two pawns
   • our candidate is in the lead in the polls
   • way out front in the race
   • the advertising campaign put them out front in sales