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Showing results for leading. Search instead for unleading.
Synonyms

leading

1 American  
[lee-ding] / ˈli dɪŋ /

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 American  
[led-ing] / ˈlɛd ɪŋ /

noun

  1. a covering or framing of lead.

    the leading of a stained-glass window.

  2. Printing. lead.

leading 1 British  
/ 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
"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
leading 2 British  
/ ˈlɛdɪŋ /

noun

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

"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 Word Forms

  • leadingly adverb

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

First recorded in 1400–50; lead 2 + -ing 1

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.

In previous seasons at James Madison University, Kennedy and Chesney noticed there were times when too much emphasis was placed on learning plays early in spring practice, leading to execution mistakes once the season began.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Lawyers from Irwin Mitchell, who are leading the personal injury claim, say they have been contacted by people who became ill there as recently as two weeks ago.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

One of the leading dismissive comments is that this wasn’t even a moon landing, and only returning with dusty boots would be significant.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

The 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara went from languishing on UCLA’s bench to leading the nation’s most dominant defense.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Instead of a carved wooden bureau and a set of French doors leading to a balcony, she saw walls of rough stone.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

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.