leading
1 Americanadjective
-
chief; principal; most important; foremost.
a leading toy manufacturer.
-
coming in advance of others; first.
We rode in the leading car.
-
directing, guiding.
- Synonyms:
- ruling
noun
adjective
-
guiding, directing, or influencing
-
(prenominal) principal or primary
-
in the first position
the leading car in the procession
-
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
noun
Other Word Forms
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
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.
He has leaned into Norway's Viking history and is fiercely proud of representing his country, as illustrated by leading his team-mates in the Viking Row after beating Brazil.
From BBC • Jul. 10, 2026
He was named the tournament’s best defensive player and earned all-star five honors after leading his team with 16 steals and 12 blocks.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2026
The task forces, first announced by Warsh during his debut press conference last month, are the leading edge of an overhaul Warsh has pledged for the central bank.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 9, 2026
A major risk for the four leading hyperscalers is that competing labs will develop their own computing infrastructure and wean themselves off existing clouds, he said.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 9, 2026
As Akira watched, the app updated and the leading edge of the fire jumped closer to the road.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
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.
