leading

¹

[lee-ding]

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

noun

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

leading

²

[led-ing]

noun

1. a covering or framing of lead.

   the leading of a stained-glass window.

2. Printing.,  lead.

leading

¹

/ 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

leading

²

/ ˈlɛdɪŋ /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• leadingly adverb

Word History and Origins

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

Manchester City striker Haaland is the leading scorer in European qualifying with 12 goals so far.

Read more on Barron's

It said a small group of counter-protesters had breached Public Order Act conditions "by demonstrating at the form up point of the Palestine Coalition protest", leading to the altercation.

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Biden left office in January as the oldest serving US president in history and questions about his health dogged his first term, leading him to end his run for re-election late in his campaign.

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Halligan’s go-it-alone approach may prove challenging as the cases proceed, experts said, as she will have to counter a flurry of defense motions while juggling her work leading the office.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In recent weeks, the RSF has intensified its assault on el-Fasher, leading experts to believe the city could soon fall unless the army receives immediate reinforcements.

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Related Words

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