leading

¹ American  

[lee-ding] / ˈli dɪŋ /

adjective

1. chief; principal; most important; foremost.

   a leading toy manufacturer.

2. coming in advance of others; first.

   We rode in the leading car.

3. directing, guiding.

   Synonyms:

   ruling

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noun

1. the act of a person or thing that leads.

leading ² American  

[led-ing] / ˈlɛd ɪŋ /

noun

1. a covering or framing of lead.

   the leading of a stained-glass window.

2. Printing. lead.

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leading ¹ British  

/ ˈliːdɪŋ /

adjective

1. guiding, directing, or influencing

2. (prenominal) principal or primary

3. in the first position

   the leading car in the procession

4. maths (of a coefficient) associated with the term of highest degree in a polynomial containing one variable

   in 5x² + 2x + 3, 5 is the leading coefficient

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leading ² British  

/ ˈlɛdɪŋ /

noun

1. Also called: interlinear spacing.  printing the spacing between lines of photocomposed or digitized type

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Other Word Forms

• leadingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of leading¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (noun); lead ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; lead ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun sense

Origin of leading²

First recorded in 1400–50; lead ² + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Duvall seldom played leading men, but Mac Sledge, in “Tender Mercies,” was a notable breakthrough.

From Los Angeles Times

More character actor than leading man, he could be relied upon to inject a feisty, fiery machismo and a cantankerous contrariness into the most mainstream Hollywood offering.

From BBC

If their stance is 'goofy' then it is the opposite - the right hand is the leading hand and left is trailing, both still corresponding to the nose and tail of the board respectively.

From BBC

While his friends were among the era’s pre-eminent leading men, Duvall had significant roles himself, but became best known as a character actor in supportive yet unforgettable performances.

From The Wall Street Journal

Zubrin, who as founder of the Mars Society is also one of the leading minds on Mars exploration, spent years testing balloons that were designed to one day land on the red planet for NASA.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• best
• dominant
• famous
• main
• noted
• outstanding
• popular
• preeminent
• principal
• prominent
• top
• well-known