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.
See Examples For:
An ejection can lead to suspension from one to three games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
Top military leaders told the president that a war would lead to casualties, concerns about the weapons stockpile and readiness problems for an overstretched force, The Wall Street Journal reported.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Watson almost let a double-break lead slip in the final set but held firm to set up a meeting with Spain's Angela Fita Boluda.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
A 2002 hit on the French presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Chevenement -- with a pineapple-flavoured missile at the Paris book fair -- would lead custard-pie throwing to be ruled a criminal offence.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
I knew what she was saying: Follow my lead.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Cavenagh became Rangers chairman, with 49ers Enterprises taking a leading role in the club's ownership.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
A leading figure of the new generation of Italian capitalism, he also chaired Ray-Ban, one of EssilorLuxottica's most iconic brands, which also include Oakley, Persol and Oliver Peoples.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
In the weeks leading up to the runoff, he has faced a torrent of spending from outside groups attacking him.
From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026
Stetson Bennett capitalizes on extended playing time, leading four scoring drives and rushing for two touchdowns in the Rams’ 34-0 preseason win over the Saints.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
The University of Delaware has taken a leading role in the evolution of spatial teleportation sciences, with Dr. Sabio at the helm.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
The moves led to short-term pain as sales fell for several quarters, but the efforts are now paying off.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
The report, by derivatives analysts led by Bram Kaplan, called that “curious” in light of the escalating U.S. trade dispute.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
The feud led to Atleti fans jeering their own player on his return to club action after the summer World Cup in a 2-2 home draw with Villarreal on Sunday.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
Rebels led by HTS overthrew long-time Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, with the group's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa taking over as president as the country rebuilds after more than 13 years of civil war.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
Wolf led them along an auroch trail that wound north up the side of the valley: a chilly climb through frost-brittle bracken.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Vocabulary lists containing lead
Black and Gray
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Journalism
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Theater - Introductory
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