take the lead
idiom
1
: to take a position that is ahead of others : go first
You take the lead and we'll follow right behind you.
2
: to take the winning position in a race or competition
Her car has taken the lead.
Our team took the lead in the eighth inning.
—often used figurativelyTheir company has taken the lead in developing this new technology.
Examples of take the lead in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hampton will push for an immediate timeshare and could take the lead this year with Top 20 potential and RB1 upside if Najee Harris gets hurt/is gone next year.
—
Jake Ciely, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Student interns take the lead in planting and managing a diverse selection of plants, which are sold to the public at budget-friendly prices.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
And if Leonard puts on another show or James Harden or Norman Powell go off, and the Clippers take the lead in the series, the arena could be rocking.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2025
And that requires engaging with rivals and reworking alliances so that Washington does not need to take the lead in confronting Beijing and Moscow simultaneously.
—A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take the lead
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Jake Ciely, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Student interns take the lead in planting and managing a diverse selection of plants, which are sold to the public at budget-friendly prices.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
And if Leonard puts on another show or James Harden or Norman Powell go off, and the Clippers take the lead in the series, the arena could be rocking.
—Janis Carr, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2025
And that requires engaging with rivals and reworking alliances so that Washington does not need to take the lead in confronting Beijing and Moscow simultaneously.
—A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take the lead
Cite this Entry
“Take the lead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20the%20lead. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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