Link Centre Dictionary

leading

lea·ding

UK/ˈliːdɪŋ/ US/ˈlɛdɪŋ/ common
adjective (5) noun (2)

adjective

1.

indicating the most important performer or role

  • “the leading man”
  • “prima ballerina”
  • “prima donna”
  • “a star figure skater”
  • “the starring role”
  • “a stellar role”
  • “a stellar performance”
Synonyms
Similar
2.

going or proceeding or going in advance; showing the way

  • “we rode in the leading car”
  • “the leading edge of technology”
Antonyms
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3.

greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement

  • “our greatest statesmen”
  • “the country”
  • “;”
Synonyms
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4.

having the leading position or higher score in a contest

  • “he is ahead by a pawn”
  • “the leading team in the pennant race”
Synonyms
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5.

purposefully formulated to elicit a desired response

  • “a leading question”
Similar

noun

1.

thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing

Synonyms
2.

the activity of leading

  • “his leadership inspired the team”
Synonyms

Origin

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.

Phrases

  • leading gentleman
  • leading hand
  • leading indicator
  • leading lady
  • leading man
  • leading question
  • leading seaman
  • leading spoke

Related words

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.