to lead
Be in front
To lead is to go first or show the way, guiding others who follow: She led the group through the forest.
From this core sense, lead extends to being in charge or ahead—leading a team, leading in the polls, leading a discussion.
A path or road leads somewhere by taking you there: This trail leads to the summit.
A clue or evidence leads to a conclusion.
What you lead with is what you put forward first: He led with his strongest argument.
As a noun, a lead is an advantage (a ten-point lead), a clue (police followed up on several leads), or the principal role in a performance.
The leash attached to a dog is also its lead.
- guideLeader or instruction book
- show the wayGuide toward a destination
- directUndeviating or to guide
- steerDirect movement or castrated bull
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
take charge · head · front · pioneer · blaze a trail · conduct · shepherd · helm · captain · charge · spearhead · trailblaze · usher · pave · first · ahead · take the reins · reins