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.
"You can imagine the whole system as a finely branched power grid that becomes increasingly damaged with age: connections break down and currents stall," explains Dr. Maria Ermolaeva, the study's lead author.
From Science Daily • Jun. 11, 2026
The commission warned this would lead to councils borrowing more money, increasing their long-term financial risks.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
After Brunson gave the Knicks their first lead with 82 seconds remaining and Anunoby's go-ahead basket, the Spurs wouldn't get another shot off.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
Now some are saying the safety guardrails the big AI companies put on their models lead to a kind of nanny state.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
Before the officer can lead him across the street, he twists around to face me.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Vocabulary lists containing lead
Black and Gray
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Journalism
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Theater - Introductory
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