leading

leading — adjective

1. More important, successful, or advanced than any other person or thing in a part

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

More important, successful, or advanced than any other person or thing in a particular group, field, or industry.

Example

Olivia is a leading expert on climate change and ocean ecosystems.

common collocation: leading expert

This university is a leading institution for medical research in East Asia.

Common collocations
  • leading expert
  • leading role
  • leading position
  • leading cause
  • leading company
  • leading institution
  • leading figure
Synonyms
  • foremost

    More formal; suggests being at the very top in a ranking

  • top

    More informal; common in everyday speech ('top expert')

  • principal

    Suggests primary importance; often used for main participants ('principal investigator')

  • premier

    Suggests high quality and prestige; more formal register

Antonyms
  • minor

    Of lesser importance, rank, or significance

  • secondary

    Coming after the most important in order or priority

Grammar Patterns

leading + noun

Usage Note

This sense is almost always used before a noun (attributive position). For example, 'a leading cause' but rarely 'the cause is leading'.

Common Mistakes

She is a lead expert in biology.
She is a leading expert in biology.
'Lead' as a noun modifier means 'main' only in fixed phrases like 'lead singer'; use 'leading' for 'most important.'
He plays a leading role in the company, but he is not manager.
He plays a leading role in the company, but he is not the manager.
Missing the definite article in the second clause.

2. In a position that is ahead of all other competitors or participants in a race,

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

In a position that is ahead of all other competitors or participants in a race, game, or contest; or guiding the way forward as the first person or thing.

Example

The leading runner crossed the finish line almost two minutes ahead of the others.

sports context: leading runner

The leading car suddenly lost speed on the final lap of the race.

Common collocations
  • leading runner
  • leading car
  • leading horse
  • leading team
  • leading position in a race
  • leading group
Synonyms
  • first

    More common in everyday speech; less formal than 'leading'

  • front-running

    Specifically for race contexts; less common

  • top

    Overlaps in meaning but can also mean 'best' rather than 'physically ahead'

Antonyms
  • last

    In the final position; at the back of a race or line

  • trailing

    Behind others in a competition or race

Grammar Patterns

leading + noun

Usage Note

Typically used before a noun describing a participant in a competitive context (runner, car, team, horse). When used for guidance rather than competition, the object is usually a group of people moving together.

Common Mistakes

He is leading in the race' (without context).
He is the leading runner in the race.
As an adjective, 'leading' goes before the noun; the verb form 'is leading' is for the verb 'lead.'

leading — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Leading, foremost, top, principal, and premier all describe something of high importance or rank, but they differ in register and nuance. Leading is the most neutral and versatile — it works across formal and informal contexts ('a leading expert,' 'a leading cause'). Foremost is more formal and suggests being at the very top of a mental ranking ('the foremost authority on ancient Rome'). Top is the most informal and everyday ('one of our top students'). Principal suggests primary importance often in official or organizational contexts ('the principal investigator,' 'principal reason'). Premier leans toward prestige and quality ('a premier research center'). In practice, leading is the safest choice for most learners: use it when you mean 'most important' or 'among the most important.' Use top in casual conversation, principal for official roles, and premier when implying prestige.

leading ↗foremost ↗topprincipal ↗premier ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • leading the way
  • take a leading role
  • have a leading position in

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

The adjective 'leading' comes from the Old English verb 'lædan' meaning 'to guide, conduct, or carry,' tracing back through Proto-Germanic *laidijaną to the Proto-Indo-European root *leit- ('to go forth'). The noun forms come from the metal 'lead' (Old English 'lēad,' from Proto-West Germanic *lauda-), so the two senses — 'most important' and 'roof metal' or 'text spacing' — come from completely different historical roots that happen to share the same modern spelling.