lead
Usage
What are other ways to say lead?
To lead is to bring onward in a course, guiding by contact or by going in advance; hence, figuratively, to influence or induce to some course of conduct: to lead a procession; to lead astray. Guide implies continuous presence or agency in showing or indicating a course: to guide a traveler. To conduct is to precede or escort them to a place, sometimes with a degree of ceremony: to conduct a guest to his room. To direct is to give information for guidance, or instructions or orders for a course of procedure: to direct someone to the station.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a head-to-head matchup, Raman would lead Bass 32% to 28%, according to a poll of registered voters conducted last month by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, which was co-sponsored by The Times.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
A theatre actor stepped into a lead male role he knew nothing about - with only hours to prepare and his script still in hand.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
Just when you think a lead is safe and a game’s tucked away, it’s suddenly not.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Fashioning your lead actor as a totem to project your thoughts about apathy and loneliness would be a risky move for anyone other than writer-director Amanda Kramer, who’s made a career out of brazen chicness.
From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026
The cub had to learn that he was the lead wolf, or there’d be endless trouble in the future.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Vocabulary lists containing lead
Black and Gray
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Journalism
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Theater - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
