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.
They also have emerged as a leading cause of soldiers’ deaths.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026
The leading scorer in college basketball last year led an NBA draft class that is regarded as one of the deepest in a generation.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says leading AI models are too pricey, and the company is even considering hosting cheaper Chinese AI like DeepSeek.
From Barron's • Jun. 23, 2026
The proposed schedule changes will mean that the world's leading golfers will play on the the PGA Tour's "Championship Series" in tournaments comprising 120-man fields.
From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026
She’s leading him away from the jetty, away from us.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
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.
