leading lady
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of leading lady
First recorded in 1870–75
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The pair ultimately found their leading lady — relative newcomer Deva Cassel, daughter of Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci — in Italy.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
"I thought I'll get into the back seat beside the son's friend, but oh no the leading lady has to sit in the front seat," she continued.
From BBC • Dec. 8, 2025
Crawford’s rise from chorus line to leading lady was driven by the actress’s commitment to her movie-star dreams.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025
Which is to say that if the system won’t do it for her, Molly Gordon will simply make herself a leading lady.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2025
Meanwhile, Booth passes within inches of leading lady Laura Keene as he limps off the stage.
From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
