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Added 5 October 2026

leading

/ˈliːdɪŋ/ verb

Categories: Describing WordsThingsEveryday Words

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about leading at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. present participle and gerund of lead

adjective

  1. Providing guidance or direction.
    Avoid leading questions if you really want the truth.
  2. Ranking first.
    He is a leading supplier of plumbing supplies in the county.
  3. Occurring in advance; preceding.
    The stock market can be a leading economic indicator.

noun

  1. An act by which one is led or guided.
  2. Command of an army or military unit.

noun

  1. Vertical space added between lines; line spacing.

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: guidingleadershipdirectivedirectionalaheadprimapurposefulstarringpreeminentsuperiorupmajor

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