1
: coming or ranking first : foremost
2
: exercising leadership
3
: providing direction or guidance
a leading question
4
: given most prominent display
the leading story
plural leadings
1
: a covering or framework of lead
repaired the leading in the church's stained glass windows
2
typography
: the distance between a pair of adjacent lines in composed text
increased the leading after the header
a leading of 6 points
Synonyms
Adjective
Examples of leading in a Sentence
Adjective
a leading topic of conversation
Their family played a leading part in the settlement of the town.
the leading role in a major Hollywood movie
a leading citizen of the town
She's one of the leading authorities on the stock market.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Tanzi/bloomberg, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
The country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, also sought a leading role for India and worked energetically from the 1940s to the 1960s to promote a distinct brand of foreign policy—nonalignment with both the Soviet Union and the United States—through international institutions.
—Rohan Mukherjee, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2024
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 2 million people expected to be diagnosed this year, according to the American Cancer Society.
—Nathan Luna, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2024
The project could prove a positive leading indicator for a school district better known for struggling to catch up, and notorious for costly technological misfires.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Prior to leading Capstan, Shawver was CEO of Silverback Therapeutics and also Synthorx, which was acquired by Sanofi.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
Monk, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, has emerged as a leading Sixth Man of the Year candidate in his second season with the Kings.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 30 Mar. 2024
The film explores aging, family and autonomy based on a real-life experience of Margolin’s grandmother and marks Squibb’s first leading film role.
—Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024
Spencer Dinwiddie, who started in place of D’Angelo Russell (non-COVID illness), played a leading role in helping the Lakers record a season high for points.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024
But with starter and leading rebounder Sydney Parrish out with an injury, IU’s fortunes may change.
—Chloe Peterson, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Jan. 2024
The hard part of executing and leading is actually changing and growing as the leader that the organization needs, and that’s the CEO role.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024
The actual leading of the team and the power in the system lay with someone else who demonstrated those leadership qualities.
—Vinesh Sukumaran, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Slats are moveable panels on the front or leading edge of the wing and are used during takeoffs and landings.
—Beatrice Dupuy, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2024
Her presence could not be missed, after all, she is nominated for best actress in a leading for Barbie.
—Lorena Meouchi, Glamour, 18 Feb. 2024
For Brown, the team’s Most Valuable Player and leading scorer, the game was extra special.
—Mike Frainie, Baltimore Sun, 28 Jan. 2024
Before The Rookie, Chavez had a recurring role on The Fosters and leading roles on Chicago P.D. and D.C.’s Legends of Tomorrow, plus a number of other TV credits.
—Jacqueline Weiss, Peoplemag, 26 Nov. 2023
Adjective
By Alex Tanzi/Bloomberg April 5, 2024 3:48 PM EDT
COVID-19 became the second leading cause of death globally in the year after it was declared a pandemic, according to a study published in the Lancet.
—Alex Tanzi/bloomberg, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
The country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, also sought a leading role for India and worked energetically from the 1940s to the 1960s to promote a distinct brand of foreign policy—nonalignment with both the Soviet Union and the United States—through international institutions.
—Rohan Mukherjee, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2024
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 2 million people expected to be diagnosed this year, according to the American Cancer Society.
—Nathan Luna, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2024
The project could prove a positive leading indicator for a school district better known for struggling to catch up, and notorious for costly technological misfires.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Prior to leading Capstan, Shawver was CEO of Silverback Therapeutics and also Synthorx, which was acquired by Sanofi.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
Monk, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, has emerged as a leading Sixth Man of the Year candidate in his second season with the Kings.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 30 Mar. 2024
The film explores aging, family and autonomy based on a real-life experience of Margolin’s grandmother and marks Squibb’s first leading film role.
—Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024
Spencer Dinwiddie, who started in place of D’Angelo Russell (non-COVID illness), played a leading role in helping the Lakers record a season high for points.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
Each media market gets one vote, and the Mountain West’s leading scorer (20.5) and third leading rebounder (8.2) received seven; Utah State’s Darius Brown II got three and Aggies teammate Great Osobor got one.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024
But with starter and leading rebounder Sydney Parrish out with an injury, IU’s fortunes may change.
—Chloe Peterson, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Jan. 2024
The hard part of executing and leading is actually changing and growing as the leader that the organization needs, and that’s the CEO role.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024
The actual leading of the team and the power in the system lay with someone else who demonstrated those leadership qualities.
—Vinesh Sukumaran, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Slats are moveable panels on the front or leading edge of the wing and are used during takeoffs and landings.
—Beatrice Dupuy, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2024
Her presence could not be missed, after all, she is nominated for best actress in a leading for Barbie.
—Lorena Meouchi, Glamour, 18 Feb. 2024
For Brown, the team’s Most Valuable Player and leading scorer, the game was extra special.
—Mike Frainie, Baltimore Sun, 28 Jan. 2024
Before The Rookie, Chavez had a recurring role on The Fosters and leading roles on Chicago P.D. and D.C.’s Legends of Tomorrow, plus a number of other TV credits.
—Jacqueline Weiss, Peoplemag, 26 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leading.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing leading
Dictionary Entries Near leading
Cite this Entry
“Leading.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leading. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on leading
Nglish: Translation of leading for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of leading for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about leading
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