leads 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of lead
1
as in steers
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front an enthusiastic docent led our group through the art museum

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in commands
to serve as leader of a senior programmer is leading the team that is developing the new accounting software

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in accompanies
to be at the front of the local high school's marching band led the parade

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in extends
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction this old road leads to an abandoned quarry

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5
as in guides
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed the salesclerk led us through the maze of options now available to television buyers

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leads

2 of 2

noun

plural of lead
1
as in principals
the person who has the most important role in a play, movie, or TV show the actor's career has really taken off since he became the lead in that prime-time drama

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in distances
the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects the runner maintained a lead of several meters all the way around the track

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3
as in tips
a piece of advice or useful information especially from an expert my sister got a lead on the job opening from her neighbor, who is the human resources director for the company

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4
as in clues
a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation) the police are now working on several leads generated by the evidence gathered at the crime scene

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of leads
Verb
This isn’t the kind of show where confidence leads the performers to either coast or overdo. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026 Go inside the football hotbed that leads Georgia’s 159 counties in prospects per capita. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 6 July 2026 Japan leads Brazil 1-0 after the first 45 minutes, taking advantage of essentially its only chance so far. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026 Their searching leads them to countless people, from journalists to police officials to a growing team of internet sleuths, who are compassionate and generous with their time. — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal with his two shots, while Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabao and Alex Baena also have two shots apiece. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 July 2026 The series starred Melissa Roxburgh as a former FBI profiler who leads a team assembled to hunt down escaped killers who fled a mysterious prison. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 6 July 2026 Also on hand was Formula 1 racer Kimi Antonelli, who leads the drivers' standings despite a disappointing result in Sunday's British Grand Prix. — ABC News, 6 July 2026 Damon leads an all-star ensemble that includes Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron and more. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
Noun
But judging from this amuse-bouche, jury is still out on the romantic leads. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026 Heath left Chicago with new information and leads. — Keith O’Brien, New Yorker, 25 June 2026 Getting executives to want to do a story where the women are leads, that’s the hardest thing. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 July 2026 But the series’ two leads are not the only ones whose lives have been transformed by Jacob Tierney’s sports romance. — Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 26 June 2026 The chemistry between the two leads is astounding, with both men encouraged to improvise during filming to make their banter feel authentic. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 3 July 2026 The team developed a troubling pattern of collapsing from double-digit leads, a statistical anomaly. — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 Photos of wallets, textiles, sports equipment, photos, jewelry, signs, flags, quilts, stuffies, toys and camp trunks filled the page as strangers banded together in the comments sections, tagging potential rightful owners or friends with any leads. — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 Investigators had no leads for decades until 2018, when Oyler's DNA was entered into the national DNA database for a drug-trafficking conviction, the DA's office said in its statement. — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leads
  1. steers
  2. commands
  3. accompanies
  4. extends
  5. guides
  6. principals
  7. distances
  8. tips
Verb
  • The jet stream is a highway of air at high altitudes which steers weather systems.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • Taking a cue from nickelodeon piano players, composer John Powell steers the mood with a vibrantly eclectic score of sprightly ragtime, violin pathos and popcorn crescendos.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of steers
Verb
  • The complaint also accuses G-MAC of violating Title IX, a federal law that commands gender equity in college sports.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Lord Corlys Velaryon and his fleet have the city blockaded, while Team Black commands from Dragonstone and Daemon battles in the Riverlands and Aemond broods on the throne, which he’s taken from his maimed brother.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of commands
Verb
  • This reflection accompanies the release of Couture, a new film directed by Alice Winocour, in which Jolie stars as Maxine Walker, an American filmmaker who is diagnosed with breast cancer while in Paris on business.
    — Monica Coviello, Vanity Fair, 25 June 2026
  • The buzz that accompanies the reunion of a great band doesn’t last forever – think of that other influential Massachusetts alt-rock institution that came back in the mid-2000s, Pixies, and how that initial excitement has dwindled with each successive post-reunion album.
    — Al Shipley, SPIN, 23 June 2026
Definition of accompanies
Verb
  • The root ball boundary or the outer edge of the soil-and-root mass typically extends from the main stem to just beyond the edge of the foliage.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026
  • Of course, Oaxaca's appeal also extends beyond the plate, with colorful colonial architecture, bustling markets, centuries-old churches, and a flourishing art scene.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
Definition of extends
Verb
  • Eder believed that American flags should be made in America, a philosophy that still guides the company today.
    — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 26 June 2026
  • For a truly memorable half day on the island, book a session at Forge a Memory, where a blacksmith guides you through making your own knife.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 June 2026
Definition of guides
Noun
  • So why now when the team principals meet is the room is all men?
    — Luke Smith, New York Times, 30 June 2026
  • The Austrian Alps are fantastically photogenic, and the principals in the Plamberger trial had left a detailed record of their time in the mountains on social media.
    — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of principals
Noun
  • Instead of limiting where an electric bike can go, its folding design creates more opportunities to ride, making spontaneous adventures easier than ever while still providing the comfort needed for longer distances.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 July 2026
  • They’re also suited for specific boating environments, with canoeing most frequently seen in rivers, lakes, and shallower waters while sailboats are more tailored for wider distances and uses.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
Definition of distances
Noun
  • Rainy weather driving tips Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 July 2026
  • Read More TopicsTaylor Swift Vogue Weddings An all-access invitation to the exceptional and inspirational, plus planning tips and advice.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 July 2026
Definition of tips

Browse Nearby Words

lead-pipe cinches
leads
leads off
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Cite this Entry

“Leads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leads. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of leads for Spanish Speakers

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