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
Traditionally, federal agencies take the lead, given their national security mandates, on countering foreign disinformation threats.
—
Michael Vandergriff, TIME, 11 Sep. 2024
Most pediatricians and nutrition experts recommend patiently offering a variety of foods in small portions and letting your child take the lead on their tastes and preferences.
—Christin Perry, Parents, 1 Sep. 2024
In Kylian Mbappé’s league debut, Real survived a sluggish start to take the lead through Rodrygo’s wonderful, curled effort after 13 minutes, latching onto Vinícius Jr.’s backheel.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 19 Aug. 2024
This partnership marks the beginning of an exciting phase for African fashion, where innovation, creativity, and mentorship take the lead.
—Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for take the lead 
Michael Vandergriff, TIME, 11 Sep. 2024
Most pediatricians and nutrition experts recommend patiently offering a variety of foods in small portions and letting your child take the lead on their tastes and preferences.
—Christin Perry, Parents, 1 Sep. 2024
In Kylian Mbappé’s league debut, Real survived a sluggish start to take the lead through Rodrygo’s wonderful, curled effort after 13 minutes, latching onto Vinícius Jr.’s backheel.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 19 Aug. 2024
This partnership marks the beginning of an exciting phase for African fashion, where innovation, creativity, and mentorship take the lead.
—Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for take the lead
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take the lead.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near take the lead
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“Take the lead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20the%20lead. Accessed 30 Sep. 2024.
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