leading 1 of 2

adjective

ˈlē-diŋ How to pronounce leading (audio)
Definition of leadingnext
1
as in main
coming before all others in importance they are the leading suppliers of processed meat in the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in commanding
highest in rank or authority served as the leading counsel on the defendant's legal team

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

leading

2 of 2

verb

present participle of lead
1
as in guiding
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front an enthusiastic docent led our group through the art museum

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in heading
to serve as leader of a senior programmer is leading the team that is developing the new accounting software

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in accompanying
to be at the front of the local high school's marching band led the parade

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in extending
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction this old road leads to an abandoned quarry

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5
as in showing
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed the salesclerk led us through the maze of options now available to television buyers

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of leading
Adjective
It was measured by the frequency with which a firm took a leading role in investment rounds and secured board representation in its portfolio companies. — Time Staff, Time, 18 Aug. 2026 This fact might be less concerning if large language models and other leading-edge biological tools were cloistered in government labs. — Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
Coates was the leading receiver for an Auburn program that reached the national championship game in the 2013 season under coach Gus Malzahn, who posted a note of congratulations Sunday. — David Ubben, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 McCutcheon’s third goal of the season — Orlando’s earliest goal of 2026 — came courtesy of Barbra Banda, who had been leading the league in goals until being overtaken by Ashley Sanchez of North Carolina. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for leading
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leading
  1. main
  2. commanding
  3. guiding
  4. heading
  5. accompanying
  6. extending
  7. showing
  8. primary
Adjective
  • In the Brazilian city of Cuiabá, the mayor, Abílio Brunini, prohibited one such championship from taking place in the city’s main public space.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Next, workers will install new cables, bolted into the five main branches, to stabilize the tree before removing the old supports.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Adrián Marín set up the play with his pass to Tiago as Orlando took what seemed to be a commanding lead in the second half.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Arendt comes most fully alive, though, when Meyer lets her own extravagant, commanding voice carry the story forward.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of commanding
Verb
  • Surrogacy agreements are most often private, and there are few federal standards guiding the practice, Ziegler said.
    — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Since vintage base ball league teams agree to abide by the same rules used in 1858, only 37 rules are applied to the sport, as compared to today’s numerous regulations guiding the players of today’s baseball games.
    — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of guiding
Verb
  • Open interest in perpetual futures, a measure of outstanding positions, had climbed sharply heading into Friday evening.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The bore heading eastbound into Chinatown will close for about seven months, with one lane of traffic open in each direction in the other bore.
    — Sooji Nam, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of heading
Verb
  • More consequential than the new name may be the fabric developments accompanying it.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • An aide explained the Hillside lawmaker was accompanying his child to their first day of school.
    — Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of accompanying
Verb
  • Out on a wooden platform extending over San Diego’s Mission Bay, young women sway from side to side, riding an imaginary wave to the beats.
    — Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In my view, extending the commitment to five years would provide greater stability for exhibitors and strengthen the position that the combined company intends to make a sustained investment in theatrical films.
    — Cory Jacobson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of extending
Verb
  • Masanori Kumagai/Kyodo News via AP Hiraguchi cited surveys showing the vast majority of Japanese supporting the death penalty as an unavoidable option.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The overall trend is also consistent with other research showing that hypertension during pregnancy has become increasingly common.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of showing
Adjective
  • That becomes particularly important when organizations rely on pop-up conversations and informal check-ins as their primary means of staying aligned.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The vast majority of girls are enrolled in primary education, at a rate higher than for boys.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of primary

Phrases Containing leading

Browse Nearby Words

lead-in
leading
leading edge
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Cite this Entry

“Leading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leading. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on leading

Nglish: Translation of leading for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about leading

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