Definition

1. Noun:

   • A position of advantage or first place: The state of being ahead of others in a competition or race.
   • The initiative or guiding role: The act of being in charge or showing the way for others to follow.
   • A clue or piece of information: Evidence or indication that guides toward a discovery or solution.
   • The principal role in a play or film: The most important part or the actor playing it.
   • A soft, heavy, bluish-gray metallic element (symbol Pb): A dense, malleable, toxic metal used in various applications.
   • A wire or cable for electrical connection: A conductor used to connect electrical devices.
   • The introductory section of a news story: The opening sentences designed to capture attention.

2. Verb (led, led):

   • To guide or show the way: To go in front of or alongside someone to show them the route.
   • To be in charge or command: To direct and control an organization, group, or activity.
   • To cause or result in: To be a primary factor in bringing about a particular outcome or situation.
   • To have the first place or advantage: To be ahead in a race, competition, or sequence.
   • To live or experience a particular kind of life: To pass one's life in a specified manner.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • She held a comfortable lead in the marathon. (She was significantly ahead of the other runners.)
  • The detective followed a promising lead in the case. (The detective pursued a clue that might solve the case.)
  • He played the lead in the school production. (He had the main role in the school play.)
  • The pipe was made of lead. (The pipe was constructed from the metallic element lead.)

• Verb:

  • The guide will lead us through the forest. (The guide will show us the way through the forest.)
  • She leads a team of talented engineers. (She is in charge of a team of engineers.)
  • His careless actions could lead to an accident. (His actions could cause an accident to happen.)
  • This road leads to the beach. (This road goes to and ends at the beach.)

Advanced Usage

• "To lead someone on": To encourage someone's romantic interest or hopes insincerely or deceptively.
  • He didn't like her; he was just leading her on.
• "To lead the way": To be the first to do something or to show others how to do it.
  • Our company aims to lead the way in renewable energy.
• "To lead by example": To teach others how to act by behaving well yourself.
  • A good manager should lead by example.

Variants and Related Words

• Leader (n): A person who leads or commands a group.
• Leadership (n): The action of leading a group or the ability to do so.
• Leading (adj): Most important or in first place (e.g., , ).
• Leaden (adj): Made of lead; dull, heavy, or slow (e.g., , ).
• Lead-in (n): An introduction or opening.

Synonyms

• Guide (v): To show the way.
• Direct (v): To manage or be in charge of.
• Head (v): To be at the front or in charge.
• Clue (n): A piece of evidence.
• Advantage (n): A favorable position.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Lead up to (something): To precede and prepare for an event; to gradually approach a topic.
  • The events leading up to the war were complex.
  • He was nervous as he led up to his big announcement.
• Lead off (with something): To begin something.
  • She led off the meeting with a safety briefing.
• Lead into (something): To serve as an introduction or transition to something else.
  • The first chapter leads into the main conflict of the story.

Related Idioms

• Take the lead: To assume a position of leadership or initiative.
  • Someone needs to take the lead on this project.
• Follow someone's lead: To do as someone else does; to follow their example.
  • If you're unsure, just follow my lead.
• Go down like a lead balloon: To be received very badly or with complete disapproval.
  • His joke about the boss went down like a lead balloon.

Noun

1. the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge
   • the lead was in the dummy
2. a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire
   • it was a tangle of jumper cables and clip leads
3. mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencil
4. thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing
5. restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal
6. the timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine
7. a news story of major importance
8. an indication of potential opportunity
   • he got a tip on the stock market
   • a good lead for a job
9. (baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base
   • he took a long lead off first
10. an actor who plays a principal role
11. (sports) the score by which a team or individual is winning
12. the introductory section of a story
    • it was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter
13. the angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile)
14. a position of leadership (especially in the phrase `take the lead')
    • he takes the lead in any group
    • we were just waiting for someone to take the lead
    • they didn't follow our lead
15. evidence pointing to a possible solution
    • the police are following a promising lead
    • the trail led straight to the perpetrator
16. a soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull grey
    • the children were playing with lead soldiers
17. an advantage held by a competitor in a race
    • he took the lead at the last turn

Verb

1. preside over
   • John moderated the discussion
2. cause something to pass or lead somewhere
   • Run the wire behind the cabinet
3. move ahead (of others) in time or space
4. lead, extend, or afford access
   • This door goes to the basement
   • The road runs South
5. lead, as in the performance of a composition; Barenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years"
   • conduct an orchestra
6. be conducive to
   • The use of computers in the classroom lead to better writing
7. be ahead of others; be the first
   • she topped her class every year
8. be in charge of
   • Who is heading this project?
9. stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point
   • Service runs all the way to Cranbury
   • His knowledge doesn't go very far
   • My memory extends back to my fourth year of life
   • The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets
10. cause to undertake a certain action
    • Her greed led her to forge the checks
11. travel in front of; go in advance of others
    • The procession was headed by John
12. tend to or result in
    • This remark lead to further arguments among the guests
13. have as a result or residue
    • The water left a mark on the silk dress
    • Her blood left a stain on the napkin
14. take somebody somewhere
    • We lead him to our chief
    • can you take me to the main entrance?
    • He conducted us to the palace