leading light

[ lee-ding ]

/ ˈli dɪŋ /

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See synonyms for leading light on Thesaurus.com

noun

an important or influential person: a leading light of the community.

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Origin of leading light

First recorded in 1870–75

Words nearby leading light

leading coefficient, leading dog, leading edge, leading indicators, leading lady, leading light, leading man, leading mark, leading note, leading question, leading rating

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use leading light in a sentence

Groups like CAIR and leading intellectuals and imams have been denouncing acts like these for years.
In Defense of Blasphemy|Michael Tomasky|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
You just travel light with carry-on luggage, go to cities that you love, and get to hang out with all your friends.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And how we want to live our lives in light of those differences.
In 2015, Let’s Try for More Compassion|Gene Robinson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Gillingham tells Mary that he wants to make their lives simpler, but it sounds a little like the dying of the light.
What Downton’s Fashion Really Means|Katie Baker|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST

He was a leading presidential contender in 1988 and 1992, but never formally entered the race.
Mario Cuomo, a Frustrating Hero to Democrats, Is Dead at 82|Eleanor Clift|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Behold a dumpy, comfortable British paterfamilias in a light flannel suit and a faded sun hat.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
She did not need a great cook-book; She knew how much and what it took To make things good and sweet and light.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
Mr. Jones swung round a large iron key he held in his hand, and light dawned upon him.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
The Seven-score and four on the six middle Bells, the treble leading, and the tenor lying behind every change, makes good Musick.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
Distance, the uncertain light, and imagination, magnified it to a high wall; high as the wall of China.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for leading light

leading light

/ (ˈliːdɪŋ) /

noun

an important or outstanding person, esp in an organization or cause

nautical a less common term for range light

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with leading light

leading light

An important or influential individual, as in Jim was a leading light in his community. This expression, alluding to moral guidance, dates from about 1870, but terms such as a shining light have been used for an outstanding person since the first half of the 1500s.

leading light

Origin of leading light

Words nearby leading light

Words related to leading light

How to use leading light in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for leading light

Other Idioms and Phrases with leading light