in the lead
idiom
1
: in a position that is ahead of others
They walked single file, with the oldest boy in the lead.
2
: winning in a race or competition
Our team was in the lead.
Examples of in the lead in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The last few weeks, for instance, their opponents talked trash in the lead-up to the games.
—
Dianna Russini, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Things are muy caliente in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
Not human ‘in the loop’ as much as human ‘in the lead’.
—Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Netflix has renewed The Lincoln Lawyer for a fifth season, locking in another 10 episodes with the Mexican actor in the lead role of defense attorney Mickey Haller.
—Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in the lead
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Dianna Russini, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Things are muy caliente in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
Not human ‘in the loop’ as much as human ‘in the lead’.
—Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Netflix has renewed The Lincoln Lawyer for a fifth season, locking in another 10 episodes with the Mexican actor in the lead role of defense attorney Mickey Haller.
—Veronica Villafañe, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in the lead
Cite this Entry
“In the lead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20lead. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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