in the lead

phrase

1
: in a position that is ahead of others
They walked single file, with the oldest boy in the lead.
2
: winning in a race or competition
Our team was in the lead.

Examples of in the lead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wednesday’s game featured the Liberty in the lead most of the way, with the home team going up, 27-16, after Rebecca Allen scored 10 points on perfect shooting (4-of-4). Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 Trump’s improbable rise to political dominance, which polls failed to register in the lead-up to the 2016 election, is a clear testament to that reality, and now Michigan has shown how similar head fakes can occur on the left. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026 As previously announced, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth stars opposite Bragason in the lead role of Link. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026 You are nominated in the lead actor category, as well as directing. Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for in the lead

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In the lead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20lead. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster