lead story
noun
: the first and most important story
His arrest was the lead story on the evening news.
Examples of lead story in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After yesterday’s lead story in TAFC, here’s Matt Woosnam right on cue to explain what the hell went down at Crystal Palace in the transfer window.
—
Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
The network promoted the segment as the lead story for that Sunday’s episode.
—Clare Malone, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Read on to our lead story to find out.
—Mario Aguilar, STAT, 15 Jan. 2026
Training camp news might be the lead story in some cities, but not here.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 18 July 2025
The lead story scheduled for this Sunday’s episode will focus on the potential ramifications of the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the National Institutes of Health.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
Because the lead story on every homepage and on every hour of cable TV was Garcia.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
What should be the lead story on days when lots of children are killed?
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
Why was this not the lead story everywhere? To be candid, North Carolina is just a blip on the radar of the coastal media elites, dismissed as fly-over country.
—Howard Kurtz, Fox News, 2 Oct. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
The network promoted the segment as the lead story for that Sunday’s episode.
—Clare Malone, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Read on to our lead story to find out.
—Mario Aguilar, STAT, 15 Jan. 2026
Training camp news might be the lead story in some cities, but not here.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 18 July 2025
The lead story scheduled for this Sunday’s episode will focus on the potential ramifications of the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the National Institutes of Health.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
Because the lead story on every homepage and on every hour of cable TV was Garcia.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
What should be the lead story on days when lots of children are killed?
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
Why was this not the lead story everywhere? To be candid, North Carolina is just a blip on the radar of the coastal media elites, dismissed as fly-over country.
—Howard Kurtz, Fox News, 2 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Lead story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead%20story. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
