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 ²( def 7 ).

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. printing the spacing between lines of photocomposed or digitized type Also calledinterlinear spacing

Derived Forms

• ˈleadingly, adverb

Other Words From

• leading·ly 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

It had consistently shown Trump leading since his September debate with Harris, and it ultimately proved more accurate than conventional polling methods that showed the race in a dead heat.

From Salon

More than two years after the Supreme Court granted bail and ordered “immediate release” of Mohammed Zubair from prison, the leading Indian fact-checker and journalist is once again back in court.

From BBC

There was no discretion Monday in Minnesota — everything you needed to know about the Lakers and their leading scorer was on display in big, bold letters.

From Los Angeles Times

The military said the bombing was caused by "a failure of intelligence", leading the army to mistake the open-air festival in Tudunbiri for a gathering of jihadist fighters.

From BBC

Officials had declined to explain why she took a leave, leading to uncertainty about the agency’s leadership.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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