take the lead
idiom
1
: to take a position that is ahead of others : go first
You take the lead and we'll follow right behind you.
2
: to take the winning position in a race or competition
Her car has taken the lead.
Our team took the lead in the eighth inning.
—often used figurativelyTheir company has taken the lead in developing this new technology.
Examples of take the lead in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
By stepping back and letting their child take the lead, these parents showed respect for their child’s abilities and nurtured their self-esteem.
—
Reem Raouda, Contributor, CNBC, 2 Feb. 2025
Does anyone expect Kennedy to take the lead on this?
—The Editors, National Review, 29 Jan. 2025
During his briefing, Trump declined to criticize new Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC) but indicated his preference for Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley, the former head of the North Carolina Republican Party, to take the lead on the recovery.
—Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Jan. 2025
In fact, in almost all the global crises since 1990 – from the war in Bosnia in 1992 to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 – Germany has shown a reluctance to take the lead.
—Sylvia Taschka, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for take the lead 
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.
Reem Raouda, Contributor, CNBC, 2 Feb. 2025
Does anyone expect Kennedy to take the lead on this?
—The Editors, National Review, 29 Jan. 2025
During his briefing, Trump declined to criticize new Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC) but indicated his preference for Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley, the former head of the North Carolina Republican Party, to take the lead on the recovery.
—Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Jan. 2025
In fact, in almost all the global crises since 1990 – from the war in Bosnia in 1992 to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 – Germany has shown a reluctance to take the lead.
—Sylvia Taschka, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for take the lead
Dictionary Entries Near take the lead
Cite this Entry
“Take the lead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20the%20lead. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share