1
: coming or ranking first : foremost
2
: exercising leadership
3
: providing direction or guidance
a leading question
4
: given most prominent display
the leading story
plural leadings
1
: a covering or framework of lead
repaired the leading in the church's stained glass windows
2
typography
: the distance between a pair of adjacent lines in composed text
increased the leading after the header
a leading of 6 points
Synonyms
Adjective
Examples of leading in a Sentence
Adjective
a leading topic of conversation
Their family played a leading part in the settlement of the town.
the leading role in a major Hollywood movie
a leading citizen of the town
She's one of the leading authorities on the stock market.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dermot Corrigan, The Athletic, 19 Dec. 2024
The two then made their red carpet debut as a couple in September 2021 at the Tony Awards, where Tveit won best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for Moulin Rouge!.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Tom Layberger, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Nikki Giovanni, renowned poet, activist and leading figure of the Black Arts Movement, has died.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for leading 
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.
Adjective
Two 21-year-olds have been given leading roles in midfield.
—Dermot Corrigan, The Athletic, 19 Dec. 2024
The two then made their red carpet debut as a couple in September 2021 at the Tony Awards, where Tveit won best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for Moulin Rouge!.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
The 27 points are the most IU has scored in the series, which dates to 1898 with the Irish leading, 23-5-1.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Nikki Giovanni, renowned poet, activist and leading figure of the Black Arts Movement, has died.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for leading
Dictionary Entries Near leading
Cite this Entry
“Leading.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leading. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share