1
: coming or ranking first : foremost
2
: exercising leadership
3
: providing direction or guidance
a leading question
4
: given most prominent display
the leading story
plural leadings
1
: a covering or framework of lead
repaired the leading in the church's stained-glass windows
2
typography
: the distance between a pair of adjacent lines in composed text
increased the leading after the header
a leading of 6 points
Examples of leading in a Sentence
Adjective
a leading topic of conversation
Their family played a leading part in the settlement of the town.
the leading role in a major Hollywood movie
a leading citizen of the town
She's one of the leading authorities on the stock market.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
The weather system is aligned with the planet's equator, but scientists have been unable to explain its immense size, velocity and its noticeably sharp leading edge.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 May 2026
Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Lourd snapped a photo during one of her mother Fisher's first scenes in the movie as Princess Leia, the iconic leading lady the late actress portrayed in the original three Star Wars movies and in the 2010s sequel trilogy.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for leading
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Adjective
Due to the evolving leading couple model, Off Campus has a solid cast of young, rising actors.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
The weather system is aligned with the planet's equator, but scientists have been unable to explain its immense size, velocity and its noticeably sharp leading edge.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 May 2026
Noun
Not when Daniss Jenkins, in his first playoff start, was the Pistons’ second leading scorer with 19 points on 17 shots.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Lourd snapped a photo during one of her mother Fisher's first scenes in the movie as Princess Leia, the iconic leading lady the late actress portrayed in the original three Star Wars movies and in the 2010s sequel trilogy.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for leading
Cite this Entry
“Leading.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leading. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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