lead
[verb]
Synonyms:
- guide, conduct, escort, pilot, precede, show the way, steer, usher
- persuade, cause, dispose, draw, incline, induce, influence, prevail, prompt
- command, direct, govern, head, manage, preside over, supervise
- be ahead (of), blaze a trail, come first, exceed, excel, outdo, outstrip, surpass, transcend
- live, experience, have, pass, spend, undergo
- result in, bring on, cause, contribute, produce
[noun]
Synonyms:
- first place, precedence, primacy, priority, supremacy, vanguard
- advantage, edge, margin, start
- example, direction, guidance, leadership, model
- clue, hint, indication, suggestion
- leading role, principal, protagonist, title role
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- main, chief, first, foremost, head, leading, premier, primary, prime, principal

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Antonyms: follow
Contrasted words: drive, impel, coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige
Related Words: get, induce, persuade, prevail

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English Thesaurus: actor, actress, star, the star, co-star, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. lead¹ S1 W1 /liːd/ verb (past tense and past participle led /led/)
[Word Family: noun: lead, leader, leadership; adjective: lead, leading; verb: lead]
[Language: Old English; Origin: lædan]

1. TAKE SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE [intransitive and transitive] to take someone somewhere by going in front of them while they follow, or by pulling them gently
lead somebody to/into etc something
A nurse took her arm and led her to a chair.
The horses were led to safety.
lead somebody away/down etc
She was led away from the courtroom in tears.
The manager led the way through the office.

2. GO IN FRONT [intransitive and transitive] to go in front of a line of people or vehicles:
A firetruck was leading the parade.

3. BE IN CHARGE [intransitive and transitive] to be in charge of an organization, country, or team, or a group of people who are trying to do something:
He has led the party for over twenty years.
Some people say she is too old to lead the country (=be in charge of its government).
Beckham led his team to victory.
lead an investigation/inquiry/campaign
The investigation will be led by Inspector Scarfe.
They are leading a campaign to warn teenagers about the dangers of drug abuse.
lead a revolt/rebellion/coup etc
The rebellion was led by the King’s brother.
lead an attack/assault
Nelson preferred to lead the attack himself from the front.
a man who was born to lead
a communist-led strike

4. CAUSE SOMETHING TO HAPPEN [intransitive and transitive] to cause something to happen or cause someone to do something
lead to
the events that led to the start of the First World War
A degree in English could lead to a career in journalism.
lead somebody into something
Her trusting nature often led her into trouble.
lead somebody to do something
What led him to kill his wife?
lead to somebody doing something
His actions could lead to him losing his job.

5. CAUSE SOMEBODY TO BELIEVE SOMETHING [transitive] to make someone believe something, especially something that is not true
lead somebody to believe/expect/understand something
He had led everyone to believe that his family was very wealthy.
The hotel was terrible, and not at all what we had been led to expect.
Our research led us to the conclusion that the present system is unfair.

6. INFLUENCE [transitive] to influence someone to make them do something that is wrong
lead somebody into something
His brother led him into a life of crime.
He’s not a bad boy. He’s just easily led (=it is easy for other people to persuade him to do things that he should not do).

7. BE MORE SUCCESSFUL [transitive] to be more successful than other people, companies, or countries in a particular activity
lead the world/market/pack/field
US companies lead the world in biotechnology.
lead the way (=be the first to do something, and show other people how to do it)
The Swedes have led the way in data protection. ⇒ leading¹(1)

8. BE WINNING [intransitive and transitive] to be winning a game, competition etc Antonym : lose:
At half-time, Brazil led 1–0.
With 15 laps to go, Schumacher led the race.
The polls showed Clinton leading Bush 55 percent to 34 percent.
lead by ten points/two goals etc
Nadal was leading by two sets.

9. PATH/DOOR ETC [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] used to say where a path, wire etc goes or what place is on the other side of a door
lead to/towards
The path led down to a small lake.
lead from/out of
the major artery leading from the heart
lead into
the door leading into the hallway
lead somebody to/into something
The riverside path leads visitors to a small chapel.

10. LIFE [transitive] if you lead a particular kind of life, that is what your life is like
lead a normal/quiet/busy etc life
If the operation succeeds, Carly will be able to lead a normal life.
He has led a charmed life (=been very fortunate).
lead a life of luxury/poverty etc
lead the life of a ...
She now leads the life of a recluse.
lead a double life (=deceive people by keeping different parts of your life separate and not letting anyone know the whole truth)
Joe had been leading a double life, seeing an ex-model while his wife believed he was on business.
They lead a nomadic existence.

11. DISCUSSION ETC [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to control the way a discussion, conversation etc develops:
I tried to lead the conversation back to the subject of money.

12. lead somebody up the garden path informal to deliberately deceive someone

13. lead somebody astray
a) to encourage someone to do bad or immoral things which they would not normally do
b) to make someone believe something that is not true

14. lead nowhere/not lead anywhere to not produce any useful result:
So far police investigations seem to have led nowhere.

15. lead by example to show the people you are in charge of what you want them to do by doing it yourself:
The best managers lead by example.

16. lead somebody by the nose to influence someone so much that you can completely control everything that they do:
Politicians think they can easily lead people by the nose.

17. this/that leads (me) to something used to introduce a new subject that is connected to the previous one:
That leads me to my final point. Where are we going to get the money?

18. somebody has their own life to lead used to say that someone wants to be able to live their life independently, without having to do things that other people want them to do

19. lead somebody a merry old dance/a right old dance British English to cause a lot of problems or worries for someone

20. market-led/export-led etc most influenced by the market, by exports etc:
an export-led economic recovery

21. lead the eye if a picture, view etc leads the eye in a particular direction, it makes you look in that direction:
marble columns that lead the eye upward

22. CARD GAME [intransitive and transitive] to play a particular card as your first card in one part of a card game

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. lead² S2 W2 noun

1. the lead the first position in a race or competition:
She was in the lead from start to finish.
The Canadians went into the lead after only 30 seconds.
The goal put Holland into the lead.
The Bears took the lead for the first time this season.

2. [singular] the amount or distance by which one competitor is ahead of another:
The Chicago Bulls had a narrow lead (=were winning by a small number of points).
lead over
The Socialists now have a commanding lead over their opponents.

3. [singular] if someone follows someone else’s lead, they do the same as the other person has done:
Other countries are likely to follow the U.S.'s lead.
The Government should give industry a lead in tackling racism (=show what other people should do).
The black population in the 1960s looked to Ali for a lead (=looked to him to show them what they should do).

4. take the lead (in doing something) to be the first to start doing something or be most active in doing something:
The U.S. took the lead in declaring war on terrorism.

5. [countable] a piece of information that may help you to solve a crime or mystery Synonym : clue:
The police have checked out dozens of leads, but have yet to find the killer.

6. [countable] the main acting part in a play, film etc, or the main actor
play the lead/the lead role
He will play the lead role in Hamlet.
Powers was cast in the lead role (=he was chosen to play it).
the male/female lead
They were having trouble casting the female lead.
the film’s romantic lead

7. lead singer/guitarist etc the main singer, guitarist etc in a group
lead singer/guitarist etc of/with
the lead singer of Nirvana

8. [countable] British English a piece of rope, leather, or chain for holding or controlling a dog Synonym : leash
on a lead
All dogs must be kept on a lead.

9. [countable] British English a wire used to connect a piece of electrical equipment to the power supply Synonym : cord American English ⇒ jump leads

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. lead³ /led/ noun

1. [uncountable] a soft heavy grey metal that melts easily and is poisonous, used to cover roofs, or in the past, for water pipes. It is a chemical element: symbol Pb

2. [uncountable and countable] the central part of a pencil that makes the marks when you write

3. go down like a lead balloon informal if a suggestion or joke goes down like a lead balloon, people do not like it at all

4. [uncountable] American English old-fashioned bullets:
They filled him full of lead.

5. leads [plural]
a) sheets of lead used for covering a roof
b) narrow pieces of lead used for holding small pieces of glass together to form a window

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

lead1
/li:d/ noun
I. example set by sb's behaviour
ADJ. moral
VERB + LEAD give, take The government should give a lead in tackling racism.
follow
PREP. ~ in We should follow their lead in banning chemical weapons.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

lead1
II. position ahead of other people
ADJ. big, clear, comfortable, commanding, good, strong | narrow | overall | early
VERB + LEAD be in, have She has a narrow lead over the other runners.
go into, move into, take They took an early lead.
build up, establish The team has now built up a commanding lead.
hold, maintain | lose | regain They regained the lead with only a few minutes left to play.
put sb/sth (back) into | extend, increase Sheffield increased their lead just before half time.
give
PREP. in/into the ~ struggling to stay in the lead
~ over This win gives the team a two-point lead over their closest rival.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

lead1
III. main part in a play, show, etc.
ADJ. romantic | female, male
VERB + LEAD play Her big break came when she was chosen to play the lead in a Broadway musical.
LEAD + NOUN role | singer | guitar, guitarist

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

lead1
IV. clue
ADJ. good | new | possible The police are following every possible lead.
VERB + LEAD have | follow, pursue | give
PREP. ~ on leads on the murderer's identity

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

lead2
/li:d/ verb
I. show the way
ADV. back, on ‘Lead on!’ said Arnold.
VERB + LEAD help (to) Five people helping to lead a convoy of aid are feared dead.
allow sb to, let sb Let me lead the way.
PREP. along, down, into, out of, through, to, etc. She led them along a dark corridor to a small room.
PHRASES lead the way You lead the way and we'll follow.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

lead2
II. go to a place
ADV. directly | back, down, up An old track led back through the wood.
nowhere, somewhere (often figurative) Often there are discoveries which lead nowhere.
PREP. from, onto The gardens lead directly onto a beach.
to a path leading from the village to the old church

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

lead2
III. cause
ADV. normally, usually | inevitably, inexorably Industrialization inevitably led to the expansion of the urban working class.
(almost) certainly, undoubtedly | not necessarily The use of soft drugs does not necessarily lead to a progression to hard drugs.
automatically Business success does not automatically lead to financial success.
naturally Discussion of a client's tax affairs will lead naturally into consideration of investment options.
directly | indirectly | eventually, ultimately
VERB + LEAD can/could (easily/only), may/might (well), must Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods. The carbon tax might well lead to a doubling of prices for fossil fuels.
appear to, seem to | be expected to, be likely to, tend to Worrying about your weight is more likely to lead to comforting yourself with a piece of chocolate.
be bound to
PREP. to the events that led eventually to war

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

lead3
/led/ noun
ADJ. molten
VERB + LEAD be made of
LEAD + NOUN pipe, piping | paint | shot | poisoning | content, levels | industry, mine, miner, mining

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

lead
verb
BAD: Ali asked us if we would lead him to the theatre one night.
GOOD: Ali asked us if we would take him to the theatre one night.
BAD: After breakfast I led my daughter to school as usual.
GOOD: After breakfast I took my daughter to school as usual.

Usage Note:
BRING · TAKE · LEAD · SEND · FETCH · CARRY · COLLECT · PICK UP
Bring means ‘come with sb/sth’ (NOT ‘go’): ‘Could you bring me a glass of water, please?’ ‘I’ll see you tomorrow at the club, and remember to bring your tennis racket!’
Take means ‘go with sb/sth’ (NOT ‘come’): ‘You take the shopping indoors and I’ll put the car away.’ ‘When I go on holiday, I like to take a good book with me.’
You usually take someone home, to school or to a cinema/restaurant/airport etc (NOT bring/lead/send/carry ): ‘Lucy took us to Stratford to see a play.’ ‘If you need a lift to the station, as Peter to take you.’
Lead If you lead someone to a place, you guide them there by walking in front of them, holding them by the arm, etc: ‘Some blind people like to be led across the road.’ ‘The children led me through the wood to their secret hiding place.’
Send If you send a person somewhere, you tell them to go there. You do not go with them: ‘My company sends one of us to Singapore every six months.’
Fetch If you fetch something, you go the place where it is and come back with it: ‘We waited at reception while the porter fetched our luggage.’
Carry If you go somewhere with something in your hands, in your arms, on your back etc, you carry it: ‘She carried her chair into the garden and sat in the sun.’ ‘In some countries women carry their babies on their backs.’
Collect/fetch If you collect or fetch someone (from somewhere), you go there and bring them back with you: ‘I have to collect the children from school at 4 o’clock.’
Pick up If you pick up someone (at a place), you go to the place where they are waiting, usually in a car or other vehicle, and then take them somewhere: ‘I’ll pick you up at your house just after seven. That gives us half an hour go get to the stadium.’

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

actor someone who performs in a play or film:
Her son wants to be an actor.
Both my parents are actors.
actress a woman who performs in a play or film. Many women prefer to be called actors rather than actresses:
Who was the actress who played Jane Eyre?
She’s one of my favourite actresses.
star a famous actor:
Julia Roberts is a famous Hollywood star.
The hotel is popular with movie stars.
the star someone who plays the most important part in a play or film:
Daniel Radcliffe is the star of the ‘Harry Potter’ films.
co-star one of two or more famous actors who have important parts in a play or film:
Her co-star Jodie Foster won the Best Actress Award.
the lead the main acting part in a play or film:
He will play the lead in a new version of ‘Dracula’.
extra an actor in a film who does not say anything but is part of a crowd:
She started her career as an extra in TV soap operas.
understudy an actor who learns a part in a play so that they can act the part if the usual actor is ill:
Vanessa had flu, and her place was taken by her understudy, Miss Lisa Fennell.
the cast all the actors in a play or film:
Other members of the cast include Johnny Depp and Danny DeVito.
She will head the cast (=she will have the most important part).
company a group of actors who perform plays together:
In 2006, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company.
The play will be performed by an all-female company.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

extra in addition to the usual or standard cost, time, amount etc:
They let the kids stay up an extra hour.
Some stores charge extra for delivery.
Postage is extra.
additional [only before noun] more than the basic amount or the amount that you expected or agreed. Additional is more formal than extra:
An evening job would provide additional income.
There may be an additonal charge for paying bills by credit card.
added [only before noun ] extra – used when talking about something that makes something better or more effective:
an added benefit
an added precaution
It was a beautiful place, and the good weather was an added bonus.
Use a sunscreen for added protection.
spare [only before noun] kept in addition to the one you usually use, so that it is available if the one you usually use breaks, gets lost etc:
a spare key
a spare tyre
a spare set of clothes
actor someone who performs in a play or film:
Her son wants to be an actor.
Both my parents are actors.
actress a woman who performs in a play or film. Many women prefer to be called actors rather than actresses:
Who was the actress who played Jane Eyre?
She’s one of my favourite actresses.
star a famous actor:
Julia Roberts is a famous Hollywood star.
The hotel is popular with movie stars.
the star someone who plays the most important part in a play or film:
Daniel Radcliffe is the star of the ‘Harry Potter’ films.
co-star one of two or more famous actors who have important parts in a play or film:
Her co-star Jodie Foster won the Best Actress Award.
the lead the main acting part in a play or film:
He will play the lead in a new version of ‘Dracula’.
understudy an actor who learns a part in a play so that they can act the part if the usual actor is ill:
Vanessa had flu, and her place was taken by her understudy, Miss Lisa Fennell.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

lead to take a person or animal somewhere by going in front of them while they follow, or by pulling them gently:
Rachel led Jo into the kitchen.
She was leading a horse, which seemed to have a bad leg.
take to take someone somewhere with you when you have the transport, know the way, are paying etc:
I took her to see a film.
Matt’s taking me in his car.
guide to take someone through or to a place you know, showing them the way:
Ali guided us through the streets to his house on the edge of the town.
show to take someone to a place such as a table in a restaurant or a hotel room and leave them there:
A waitress showed us to our table.
We were shown to our seats near the front of the theatre.
point to show someone which direction to go using your hand or a sign:
The sign back there pointed this way.
escort to take someone somewhere, protecting them, guarding them, or showing them the way:
He was escorted from the court by police.
The President’s car will be escorted by a military convoy.
usher to show someone the way to a room or building nearby, usually as part of your job:
His housekeeper ushered us into the living room.
shepherd to carefully take someone somewhere – used especially about a group of people:
The police shepherded thousands of people to safety in the cathedral.
direct formal to tell someone where to go or how to get somewhere:
He directed us to a cafe a few blocks away.
Can you direct me to the station?
be in the lead
He was in the lead after the first lap of the race.
have the lead
He has a one-shot lead in the golf tournament.
take the lead (=start being in the lead instead of someone else)
Lewis Hamilton has just taken the lead in the Monaco Grand Prix.
put somebody in the lead (=make someone be in the lead)
Ronaldo’s goal put Portugal in the lead.
give somebody the lead (=make someone be in the lead)
A goal in the 10th minute gave England the lead.
extend/increase/stretch sb’s lead (=make the lead bigger)
The Australian rugby team extended its lead with a try from Stirling Mortlock.
throw away a lead (=to lose the lead)
Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead.
blow a lead informal (=to lose the lead)
They managed to blow a 22-point lead.
share the lead (=when more than one player or team is in the lead )
At the end of the first round, two golfers share the lead.
a big lead
The Bruins had a big lead at half-time.
a clear lead
The ruling Labour Party has a clear lead in the opinion polls.
a comfortable lead (=a big lead)
The Wildcats had a comfortable lead in the first half.
a commanding lead (=a big lead)
Alonso raced into a commanding lead.
an early lead (=a lead early in a game, election etc)
Liverpool took an early lead with a goal from Steven Gerrard.
a one-shot/two-goal/three point etc lead (=a lead of a specific amount)
Goals by Keane and Lennon gave Tottenham a two-goal lead.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

passenger ship a ship that carries people rather than goods
cruise ship a large ship that people have holidays on
liner a large ship that sails long distances across the ocean:
an ocean liner
a transatlantic liner
ferry a ship that makes short regular journeys between two places:
The ferry operates daily between Hull and Zeebrugge.
cargo ship/merchant ship a ship that carries goods rather than people
container ship a ship that carries goods in special containers which can be put on trucks
freighter a large ship that carries goods
oil tanker a ship that carries oil
supertanker a very large ship that carries oil
barge a ship that carries goods on a river or canal
warship a military ship with guns, used in a war
battleship the largest type of ship used in war, with very big guns on it
aircraft carrier a military ship that planes can fly from or land on
destroyer a small fast military ship with guns, often used for protecting battleships
gunboat a small fast ship with guns on it, often used in shallow water near a coast
submarine a military ship that can stay under water:
a nuclear submarine
minesweeper a military ship used for removing bombs from under water
take to move or go with someone or something from one place to another:
Don’t forget to take your keys.
Shall I take you home?
I took Alice a cup of tea.
bring to take someone or something to the place where you are now:
We’ve brought someone to see you!
Will you bring your photos with you when you come?
transport to take large quantities of goods from one place to another in a plane, train, ship etc:
The plane is used for transporting military equipment.
The coal was transported by rail.
deliver to take goods, letters, newspapers etc to someone’s home or office:
Unfortunately, the package was delivered to the wrong address.
fly to take someone or something somewhere by plane:
The bread is specially flown in from Paris.
ship to take goods from one place to another – this can be by ship, truck, plane, or train:
Half the whisky is shipped to Japan and the US.
carry to take people or goods somewhere – used especially when saying how many people or things, or what kind:
The new plane can carry up to 600 passengers.
The ship was carrying a full cargo of oil.
lead to take someone to a place by going in front of them:
He led Julia through the house to his study.
Roland led the way back to the car in silence.
guide to take someone to a place and show them the way:
Emily guided him through a side gate into a large garden.
escort to take someone to a place and protect or guard them:
The prisoner was escorted into the room by two police officers.
The singer was escorted by her assistant and her bodyguard.
usher to politely lead someone somewhere and show them where to go, especially because it is your job to do this:
We were ushered into the lift by a man in uniform.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

take to move or go with someone or something from one place to another:
Don’t forget to take your keys.
Shall I take you home?
I took Alice a cup of tea.
bring to take someone or something to the place where you are now:
We’ve brought someone to see you!
Will you bring your photos with you when you come?
transport to take large quantities of goods from one place to another in a plane, train, ship etc:
The plane is used for transporting military equipment.
The coal was transported by rail.
deliver to take goods, letters, newspapers etc to someone’s home or office:
Unfortunately, the package was delivered to the wrong address.
fly to take someone or something somewhere by plane:
The bread is specially flown in from Paris.
ship to take goods from one place to another – this can be by ship, truck, plane, or train:
Half the whisky is shipped to Japan and the US.
carry to take people or goods somewhere – used especially when saying how many people or things, or what kind:
The new plane can carry up to 600 passengers.
The ship was carrying a full cargo of oil.
lead to take someone to a place by going in front of them:
He led Julia through the house to his study.
Roland led the way back to the car in silence.
guide to take someone to a place and show them the way:
Emily guided him through a side gate into a large garden.
escort to take someone to a place and protect or guard them:
The prisoner was escorted into the room by two police officers.
The singer was escorted by her assistant and her bodyguard.
usher to politely lead someone somewhere and show them where to go, especially because it is your job to do this:
We were ushered into the lift by a man in uniform.
for example used when giving an example:
Prices have risen sharply. The price of gasoline, for example, has risen by over 50%.
Nepal has many attractions for visitors. For example, you can go trekking in the Himalayas, or see tigers in Chitwan National Park.
for instance used when giving an example. For instance is slightly less formal than for example and is used more in spoken English:
There were many unanswered questions. For instance, where was the money going to come from?
Some people are really good languages. Take Katie, for instance.
eg/e.g. written used when giving an example or a list of examples. Don’t use eg in formal writing – use the full phrase for example:
Make sure you eat foods that contain protein, e.g. meat, fish, eggs, milk, or cheese.
such as especially written used when giving one or two typical examples when there are many others:
It is difficult to get even basic foods such as bread and sugar.
be a case in point used when emphasizing that someone or something is a good or typical example of what you have just mentioned:
Some birds have returned to Britain after once being extinct here. The return of the osprey is a case in point.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

lead
̈ɪled
See: get the lead out of one's pants.
see: all roads lead to rome , blind leading the blind

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲