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to lead

to lead

∞ 1.0
To guide a group or be in charge
  • verb
  • /liːd/
: dirigir
  • I am leading the expedition.
  • lead the way
  • lead a team
  • lead the development

But I'll just lead you through it right now.

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Examples

  • She will lead the team meeting to ensure everyone is on the same page.

  • You lead, you avoid and you lead with positivity.

  • But I'll just lead you through it right now.

  • And he's asking me to lead the charge, right?

  • It was my one chance to get out of this rat race and lead a normal life.

  • Mr. Crusoe, would you kindly lead the way?

  • The Hurrians had a distinct pantheon of deities, led by Kumbari, the god of the underworld.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The city's fight to overturn O'Dunne's verdict began immediately, led by City Solicitor F. Murray Benson.

    Academic text (2008)
  • As the captain, he is expected to lead the players during the match and set an example.

  • The teacher will lead the students on a field trip to the science museum.

Synonyms

to manage
vsto lead
765 2.7

To be in charge of a group or a business

focuses more on simple guidance or being the first rather than running things
to direct
vsto lead
567 3.7

To lead people in a performance or project

is broader, meaning to guide, be ahead, or take charge in many ways
to head
vsto lead
289 2.9

To be in charge of a group or organization

is broader, covering both being ahead and guiding others in many contexts
to preside
vsto lead
  • Formal
134 5.6

To be in charge of a formal meeting or group

is more general, applying to many leadership roles not just formal meetings
to take charge
vsto lead
101 3.5

Start to control a group or situation and lead others

can mean either guiding a group or merely being physically ahead
to chair
vsto lead
82 4.8

To lead a meeting or committee

covers leading in many areas beyond running formal meetings
to take the lead
vsto lead
69 3.2

To start guiding a group or activity and make the main decisions

is similar but also includes simply going first without full control
to head up
vsto lead
60 3.9

To lead a group or team

is a more general act of guiding or being ahead in any situation
to run the show
vsto lead
  • Informal
58 4.1

To be in charge of an activity or group

is a general word for guiding or being ahead, not only managing tasks
to boss
vsto lead
45 3.1

To tell other people what to do in a rude way

is less about command and more about guiding or being ahead
to spearhead
vsto lead
39 5.6

To lead a new attack or activity

can mean guiding continually or simply being the first without initiating
to conduct
vsto lead
37 6.1

To lead a group of musicians like an orchestra or choir

is a general guiding role, not limited to musical performance
to moderate
vsto lead
30 5.3

To lead a discussion and keep it orderly

is wider, meaning to guide or be ahead in activities beyond talks
to lead off
vsto lead
28 3.8

To start an event or activity, for example a speech

also includes ongoing guidance or holding overall responsibility beyond starting
to front
vsto lead
24 4.8

To act as the public leader of a group or activity

is broader, covering both visible and less visible guiding roles
23 3.8

To be the first to act to make something happen

also covers continuing guidance or being ahead, not only first action
to take the helm
vsto lead
13 4.4

To lead an organization, group, or project

covers steady guidance as well as temporary or sudden leading roles
to captain
vsto lead
10 3.0

To lead a sports team

is more general, covering many leadership forms beyond team sports
to hold the reins
vsto lead
  • Informal
3 4.9

To be in control of a group or business

is more about guiding or leading broadly rather than only control
to carry the ball
vsto lead
  • Informal
3 4.6

Lead a project or task and make sure it is finished

can also mean simply being physically or conceptually ahead without responsibility
to take the chair
vsto lead
  • UK
1 5.6

Lead a meeting as the person in charge

is broader and can mean guiding or being ahead outside formal settings
to make the running
vsto lead
  • UK
1 7.7

To take the lead in a group or activity and get others to follow

is broader, also applying to ongoing direction rather than only early action
to play first fiddle
vsto lead
  • Informal
1 7.3

To lead a group or activity as the most important person

is broader and can mean guiding or being ahead without central visibility

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

To come after something in time or order

Idioms

45 3.5

Holding the first position in a game or race

4 7.7

Make someone do what you want without them noticing

3 8.4

To delay saying the most important part of a story so readers miss it

to eat lead
  • Offensive
2 9.9

To be shot at with bullets

You can reach the same result in many different ways

1 3.0

Ahead of other people in a race or competition

To marry someone in a formal wedding ceremony

Act in a way that makes you open to attack or criticism

In a first position that gives an advantage in a competition

Phrasal Verbs

∞ 2.5

To cause something to happen, often with bad results

148 4.0

To cause events that prepare for something that happens later

143 3.8

Slowly move toward an event or result

To start guiding a group or activity and make the main decisions

to lead on
  • Informal
42 6.0

To make someone think you want a relationship or a future with them when you do not

28 3.8

To start an event or activity, for example a speech

To make someone go the wrong way, behave badly, or believe things that are not true

Fail to give any useful result or make progress

to lead off
  • Archaic
2 8.2

To cause someone, often a young person, to do bad things

To stand at the front of a group and direct them

To find a useful clue that helps an investigation

Compounds

lead story
  • Literature
32 3.0

The most important news story in a newspaper, on TV, or online

lead-in
  • Literature
14 4.9

A short introduction before the main part of a talk or story

lead poisoning
  • Specialized
11 3.9

A condition that happens when too much lead gets into the body and makes you sick

lead time
  • Specialized
9 4.5

The time between starting and finishing a process often used in business

1 3.5

Does not contain the metal lead

1 1.3

A pencil that uses graphite for writing or drawing

lead-acid battery
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A rechargeable device with lead plates and weak sulphuric acid used in cars and for backup power

lead glass
  • Specialized
1 6.3

Glass made with small amounts of the metal lead that is very clear and sparkly

lead sheet
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A piece of music that shows the tune, words, and chords

1 2.4

A thin dark core inside a pencil that makes marks on paper

white lead
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A poisonous white pigment made from a heavy metal and used in older paints

red lead
  • Specialized
1 9.1

A bright red powder used to make paint and to protect metal from rust

black lead
  • Archaic
1 8.6

A soft black material in pencil cores that is also used as a nuclear reactor moderator called graphite

1 5.5

A dull grey-blue color like old metal

lead bank
  • Jargon
1 6.9

A bank that coordinates a group of other banks to give a loan together

lead sandwich
  • Informal
1 8.4

A very heavy, very filling sandwich people joke about to mean a hard situation

tetraethyl lead
  • Archaic
1 9.4

A clear oily poison once added to petrol or gasoline to stop engine knocking

hard lead
  • Specialized
1 8.1

Heavy metal that people make harder by adding antimony or other metals for industrial use

lead ore
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A rock that contains a heavy grey metal people take out to use

lead chromate
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A bright yellow poisonous chemical used to make paint

lead line
  • Archaic
1 8.1

A rope with a heavy lead weight that sailors lower to measure water depth from a boat

lead arsenate
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A poisonous white chemical once used to kill insects on crops

lead carbonate
  • Archaic
1 8.9

A white poisonous powder that contains lead and was used to make paint

lead-in
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A wire that connects an antenna to a TV or radio

pig lead
  • Specialized
1 9.3

Blocks of lead made for storage or moving

1 8.1

A short wire with metal clips at both ends used to make temporary electric connections

lead acetate
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A poisonous white chemical used to dye cloth and make coatings for metal and wood

lead colic
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Severe belly pain and constipation caused by long term lead poisoning

1 4.7

Short wire with clips at each end that makes a temporary electrical connection between two points

sugar of lead
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A poisonous white chemical used long ago to dye fabrics and make glazes

sounding lead
  • Archaic
1 9.3

A heavy metal weight tied to a rope used to measure how deep water is

antimonial lead
  • Specialized
8.1

A metal made from lead and a little of another metal used to make parts stronger and resist corrosion

9.9

A shrub that grows on sandy river banks and is thought to show nearby lead

A rechargeable battery with lead plates and acid used in cars and backup power

A person who starts and encourages dancing at parties

lead tetraethyl
  • Archaic
9.9

A clear oily poisonous liquid once added to gasoline to reduce engine knocking

7.9

A low bushy tropical tree with feathery leaves and long pods used for animal food and to help the soil

green lead ore
  • Specialized
9.9

A green rock that contains lead and gives small amounts of lead when processed

red-lead putty
  • Archaic
9.3

A thick paste used to seal metal pipe joints

white lead ore
  • Specialized
9.9

A mineral that contains lead and is used to make white paint

How Authoritative

to dominate
189 3.7
to command
312 2.7
to lead
∞ 1.0
to direct
567 3.7
to guide
260 1.0

Surface Forms

lead infinitive
leading present participle
leads third person singular
led past
led past participle

Etymology

Lead The verb lead comes from an old English word meaning 'bring' or 'guide', which is why to lead is to guide people or groups and to go first.