lead the way

idiom

: to be the first person to go somewhere
You lead the way, and we'll follow.
often used figuratively
Their company led the way in developing this technology.

Examples of lead the way in a Sentence

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The hosts continue to lead the way in overall medals heading into Day 4 of the Winter Games. Sean Nevin, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026 Caroline Peper scored 27 points to lead the way for two-time defending national champion NYU, which had to work hard for Sunday's win. CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026 Williams has been the heart of the Patriots defense and will lead the way in Super Bowl LX. Boston Herald Staff, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026 Keller Timber Creek Jillian Topping, senior G/F After a junior season that saw her earn TABC all-region honors, Topping is averaging 12 points to lead the way for the Falcons. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lead the way

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Cite this Entry

“Lead the way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead%20the%20way. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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