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
Angela Shearman, a friend somewhere in the crowd, made 38 of them in the lead-up to the Games.
—
Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
No preventive war Debate about overly permissive use of force reached its zenith in the lead-up to the Bush administration’s invasion of Iraq in 2003.
—Gerard F. Powers, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
Some believe that everyone who had interest has already watched Amazon’s glossy look at the first lady in the lead up to the inauguration.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
Two different visions While Wooster focused on the administration’s diplomatic approach, Holmes argued for significantly greater investment in Haiti’s security apparatus, with Haitians in the lead.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in the lead
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Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
No preventive war Debate about overly permissive use of force reached its zenith in the lead-up to the Bush administration’s invasion of Iraq in 2003.
—Gerard F. Powers, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
Some believe that everyone who had interest has already watched Amazon’s glossy look at the first lady in the lead up to the inauguration.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
Two different visions While Wooster focused on the administration’s diplomatic approach, Holmes argued for significantly greater investment in Haiti’s security apparatus, with Haitians in the lead.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 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 19 Feb. 2026.
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