What does "leading" mean?
An act by which one is led or guided.
Leading
/ˈliːdɪŋ/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An act by which one is led or guided.
- Grammar: leading is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: leadership, absolute, academic community leaders, advance.
- Useful contrasts: following, nonleadership role, second rank.
- Usage evidence: More than ever do we need goals or leading ideas that will give purpose to whatever we are doing.
How to use "leading"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "leading" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "leading" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "leading" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "leading" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "leading" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "leadership" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "leading", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An act by which one is led or guided.
"It has been said that we ought not to force our way, but to wait for the openings, and leadings of Providence; but it might with equal propriety be answered in this case, neither ought we to neglect embracing those openings in providence which daily present themselves to us."
- 2 Vertical space added between lines; line spacing. uncountable
- 3 the activity of leading wordnet
- 4 Command of an army or military unit. archaic
"Art thou but Captaine of a thouſand horſe, That by Characters grauen in thy browes, And by thy martiall face and ſtout aſpect, Deſeru’ſt to haue the leading of an hoſte?"
- 5 thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing wordnet
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of lead form-of, gerund, participle, present
"I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town."
Adjective
- 1 Providing guidance or direction. not-comparable
"Avoid leading questions if you really want the truth."
- 2 Ranking first. not-comparable
"He is a leading supplier of plumbing supplies in the county."
- 3 Occurring in advance; preceding. not-comparable
"The stock market can be a leading economic indicator."
Adjective
- 1 going or proceeding or going in advance; showing the way wordnet
- 2 indicating the most important performer or role wordnet
- 3 greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement wordnet
- 4 having the leading position or higher score in a contest wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"More than ever do we need goals or leading ideas that will give purpose to whatever we are doing."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "leading"?
Common synonyms include: leadership, absolute, academic community leaders, advance, ahead, ahead.
How do you use "leading" in a sentence?
More than ever do we need goals or leading ideas that will give purpose to whatever we are doing.
How do you pronounce "leading"?
Pronounced /ˈliːdɪŋ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English ledinge, ledynge, ledand, ledande, ledende, from Old English lǣdende, from Proto-West Germanic *laidijandī, from Proto-Germanic *laidijandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *laidijaną (“to lead”), equivalent to lead + -ing. Compare West Frisian liedend, Dutch leidend, German leitend, Swedish ledande, Icelandic leiðandi.
Etymology 2
From Middle English leding, ledyng, ledinge, ledunge, equivalent to lead + -ing. Cognate with Dutch leiding (“conduit, leading, guidance, leadership”), German Leitung (“line, conduit, cable”).
Etymology 3
From Middle English leedynge, equivalent to lead (chemical element) + -ing; so named because in metal typesetting (letterpress and hot metal typesetting), pieces of lead (slugs, strips, blocks, etc) were often the mechanical means of producing the gap.