Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🎬 An introduction 🔌 A connecting wire
lead-in

lead-in

9 4.9
A short introduction before the main part of a talk or story
  • noun
  • /ˈliːdˌɪn/
  • Literature
: introducción
  • The documentary started with a brief lead-in that introduced the main topic of climate change.

So we were also very lucky to have that lead in for our for our show, our first show.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • This first part has a little bit of a lead in just to get us on the same page with some ideas.

  • And so this is a great lead in to the next thing.

  • So we were also very lucky to have that lead in for our for our show, our first show.

    GQ

  • And that's a good one because it's a lead in to all these sort of historical developments.

    Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

  • The announcement became the lead-in to a video segment on Yeltsin's recent actions.

    Academic text (1993)

  • My appearances included being a lead-in story for the Winter Olympics on the Denver NBC affiliate.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Her compelling lead-in caught the audience's attention and set the stage for the rest of the presentation.

  • The news segment included a lead-in that summarized the key events before diving into the details.

Synonyms

opening
vslead-in
350 1.0

The first part that marks the start of something, for example a ceremony

is a specific short start that directly precedes the main segment
introduction
vslead-in
81 2.1

The first part of a book, speech, or essay that explains the topic

is a briefer opening phrase used before the main part
intro
vslead-in
  • Informal
56 3.2

A short speech that makes someone known and starts an event

is similarly short but specifically precedes the main presentation content
lead
vslead-in
  • Jargon
53 4.6

The main story in a news report or newspaper

is a short introductory phrase that comes before the main segment rather than the main story
prologue
vslead-in
  • Literature
21 6.0

An opening part of a play that explains the story or background

is shorter and less detailed, used before the main performance or talk
teaser
vslead-in
  • Literature
18 4.1

A short clip that makes people curious about a show

introduces the main part more informatively rather than only to tease
prelude to
vslead-in
16 4.4

An event that comes before something more important

is a brief verbal or musical opening rather than a preceding event
opening line
vslead-in
8 2.8

The first line of a book or article that grabs attention

serves the same introductory role but is usually a short phrase before content
overture
vslead-in
7 7.2

An event or action that comes before something more important

is a concise introductory segment, not a full preliminary action
lede
vslead-in
  • Jargon
4 9.3

The opening part of a news story that makes the reader want to keep reading

is a shorter broadcast or presentation lead rather than a full article start
curtain raiser
vslead-in
1 5.6

A short event or performance that comes before the main show

is a concise verbal or musical opening used directly before the main act
incipit
vslead-in
  • Literature
9.9

The opening words of a text that are used as its title

is the short introductory phrase placed before the main part
prolusion
vslead-in
  • Archaic
9.9

A short introduction before the main part of a book

is briefer and usually spoken or performed before the main section
promythium
vslead-in
  • Literature
9.9

A short introduction before a story that gives the main lesson

is typically shorter and serves as an immediate lead into the main story
protasis
vslead-in
  • Literature
9.9

Beginning part of a play, story, or speech that sets the scene

is a shorter phrase used to introduce the following main material
prelims
vslead-in
  • Jargon
7.2

Pages at the start of a book that come before the main text, like the title page and copyright page

is a short spoken or performed introduction immediately before the main content

How Long

prologue
  • Literature
21 6.0
introduction
81 2.1
lead-in
  • Literature
9 4.9
background
365 2.6
hook
149 3.4

Surface Forms

lead-in singular
lead-ins plural

Morphology

lead-in = lead in (transparent) = in + lead

The noun is a straightforward conversion of the phrasal verb 'lead in', meaning something that introduces what comes next.

Etymology

The word lead-in comes from the parts lead 'to guide' and in 'into'. So a lead-in is a short opening that 'guides' the listener or reader 'into' the main part of a story, broadcast, or talk.