Synonyms for lead

Noun

1. lead, Pb, atomic number 82, metallic element, metal

usage: a soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull gray; "the children were playing with lead soldiers"

2. lead, advantage, vantage

usage: an advantage held by a competitor in a race; "he took the lead at the last turn"

3. lead, track, trail, evidence, grounds

usage: evidence pointing to a possible solution; "the police are following a promising lead"; "the trail led straight to the perpetrator"

4. lead, leadership, leading

usage: a position of leadership (especially in the phrase `take the lead'); "he takes the lead in any group"; "we were just waiting for someone to take the lead"; "they didn't follow our lead"

5. lead, angle

usage: the angle between the direction a gun is aimed and the position of a moving target (correcting for the flight time of the missile)

6. lead, lead-in, section, subdivision

usage: the introductory section of a story; "it was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter"

7. star, principal, lead, actor, histrion, player, thespian, role player

usage: an actor who plays a principal role

8. lead, position, place

usage: (baseball) the position taken by a base runner preparing to advance to the next base; "he took a long lead off first"

9. tip, lead, steer, confidential information, wind, hint, guidance, counsel, counseling, counselling, direction

usage: an indication of potential opportunity; "he got a tip on the stock market"; "a good lead for a job"

10. lead, lead story, news article, news story, newspaper article

usage: a news story of major importance

11. spark advance, lead, timing

usage: the timing of ignition relative to the position of the piston in an internal-combustion engine

12. leash, tether, lead, restraint, constraint

usage: restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal

13. lead, leading, strip, slip

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

14. lead, pencil lead, graphite, black lead, plumbago

usage: mixture of graphite with clay in different degrees of hardness; the marking substance in a pencil

15. jumper cable, jumper lead, lead, jumper, wire, conducting wire

usage: a jumper that consists of a short piece of wire; "it was a tangle of jumper cables and clip leads"

16. lead, turn, play

usage: the playing of a card to start a trick in bridge; "the lead was in the dummy"

Verb

1. lead, take, direct, conduct, guide

usage: take somebody somewhere; "We lead him to our chief"; "can you take me to the main entrance?"; "He conducted us to the palace"

2. leave, result, lead, bring about

usage: result in; "The water left a mark on the silk dress"; "Her blood left a stain on the napkin"

3. lead, leave, result, lead

usage: tend to or result in; "This remark lead to further arguments among the guests"

4. lead, head, precede, lead

usage: travel in front of; go in advance of others; "The procession was headed by John"

5. lead, induce, stimulate, cause, have, get, make

usage: cause to undertake a certain action; "Her greed led her to forge the checks"

6. run, go, pass, lead, extend, be

usage: stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point; "Service runs all the way to Cranbury"; "His knowledge doesn't go very far"; "My memory extends back to my fourth year of life"; "The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets"

7. head, lead, direct

usage: be in charge of; "Who is heading this project?"

8. lead, top

usage: be ahead of others; be the first; "she topped her class every year"

9. contribute, lead, conduce, promote, advance, boost, further, encourage

usage: be conducive to; "The use of computers in the classroom lead to better writing"

10. conduct, lead, direct, perform, execute, do

usage: lead, as in the performance of a composition; "conduct an orchestra; Bairenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years"

11. lead, spend, pass

usage: pass or spend; "lead a good life"

12. go, lead, be

usage: lead, extend, or afford access; "This door goes to the basement"; "The road runs South"

13. precede, lead, travel, go, move, locomote

usage: move ahead (of others) in time or space

14. run, lead, pass, make pass

usage: cause something to pass or lead somewhere; "Run the wire behind the cabinet"

15. moderate, chair, lead, hash out, discuss, talk over

usage: preside over; "John moderated the discussion"