lead
/liːd/ (bre, ipa) · [lˈid] /liːd/ (ame, ipa) · /led/ (bre, ipa) · [lˈɛd] /led/ (ame, ipa)
lead — verb
- leadpresent simple I / you / we / they
- leads3rd person singular
- leading-ing form
- ledpast simple
1. to be the person who directs a group, activity, country, or discussion and decid
to be the person who directs a group, activity, country, or discussion and decides how it should move forward.
Zayd will lead the science club after Ms Chen retires this term.
lead + club / team / group
The mayor asked Soraya to lead the flood recovery team this week.
Felipe led the budget meeting while the director was overseas.
For twelve years, Nila led the village council through drought and rebuilding.
- follow
do what another person decides or starts
文法句型
lead + group / project / discussion
用法筆記
Often takes an organization, meeting, campaign, or country as its object. Distinguish from sense 4, where the focus is physically going first to show the route.
常見錯誤
2. to stay ahead of other people or teams in a race, game, vote, or similar contest
to stay ahead of other people or teams in a race, game, vote, or similar contest.
At halftime, Anong led by eight points after two quick three-pointers.
lead by + amount
Romi is leading the class spelling contest with a perfect score.
The yellow boat led the race until the wind changed near the harbor.
By Friday afternoon, Christopher was leading in the online vote.
- trail
be behind in a race or competition
文法句型
lead by + amount
lead + field / race / poll
用法筆記
Common with by to show the size of the advantage. It can also take the competition itself as the object, as in lead the league or lead the poll.
3. to make another person think, expect, or do something, often in a mistaken or ha
to make another person think, expect, or do something, often in a mistaken or harmful direction.
The advertisement led many parents to think the camp included meals.
lead someone to think / believe
Months of online rumors led voters to doubt the official count.
A selfish friend led Arjun into spending money he could not afford.
The false map led hikers toward the closed bridge in the storm.
- warn
give information that helps someone avoid a bad action
文法句型
lead + someone + to-infinitive
lead + someone + to believe
lead to + result
用法筆記
This sense often introduces a wrong belief or a bad decision. Distinguish from sense 6, where lead to usually describes a result rather than misleading a person directly.
4. to go in front of people, animals, or vehicles so they can follow the right rout
to go in front of people, animals, or vehicles so they can follow the right route.
The ranger led the school group along a narrow forest trail.
lead the way / lead a group
A police motorcycle led the parade through the old city.
Zola led the horses across the shallow part of the river.
When the lights failed, the hotel cook led everyone to the back stairs.
- follow
go after the person who is showing the route
文法句型
lead the way
lead + group / animals / vehicle
用法筆記
The focus is on showing the route by going first. Distinguish from sense 5, where you take one person or animal somewhere with them, sometimes by the hand or collar.
5. to take a person or animal somewhere by going with them, sometimes while holding
to take a person or animal somewhere by going with them, sometimes while holding them.
The nurse led Talia into a quiet room before the X-ray.
lead + person + into / to
A volunteer led the lost child back to the ticket office.
Élise led the old dog slowly across the busy street.
The guard led the witness from the courtroom to a side door.
文法句型
lead + person + into / to / from
用法筆記
Often implies personal control or close physical accompaniment. It is common with children, elderly people, witnesses, and animals.
6. if a road, door, path, sign, clue, or action leads somewhere or to something, it
if a road, door, path, sign, clue, or action leads somewhere or to something, it goes there or causes that result.
This stone path leads to the village well behind the church.
lead to + place
A short corridor leads from the lobby to the art room.
Too little sleep can lead to careless mistakes at work.
The detective hoped the phone record would lead to an arrest.
A sign by the station led visitors toward the riverside market.
文法句型
lead to + place
lead to + result
用法筆記
This is the broad result or direction sense. It is especially common in the pattern lead to, either for a place or for an outcome such as trouble, change, or success.
常見錯誤
7. to be the first person or group to do something or to make progress earlier than
to be the first person or group to do something or to make progress earlier than others.
Sweden led Europe in banning the chemical from children's toys.
lead the move / effort
A small local company led the shift toward reusable lunch boxes.
Professor Okafor led the field in testing the new vaccine method.
Xiu led the search for a cheaper way to clean factory water.
文法句型
lead the move / campaign / field
用法筆記
This sense highlights initiative or early progress, not being in charge of people. Distinguish from sense 1, which focuses on authority and direction.
8. to live a particular kind of life.
to live a particular kind of life.
After the accident, Christopher led a quieter life near the sea.
lead a ... life
For years, Nila led a double life as a teacher and street musician.
The retired couple leads a peaceful life in the hills.
Before prison, the gang leader had led a violent life.
- live
plain verb; less fixed than lead a ... life
文法句型
lead a quiet / busy / double life
用法筆記
Usually appears with life plus an adjective such as quiet, busy, simple, or double.
9. in sport, dance, or boxing, to move first with a particular body part or to thro
in sport, dance, or boxing, to move first with a particular body part or to throw the first punch with a chosen hand.
In the drill, the coach told Arjun to lead with his left shoulder.
lead with + body part
The boxer kept leading with her jab to stop the taller opponent.
During the turn, Christopher should lead with the right foot, not the heel.
文法句型
lead with + body part / punch
用法筆記
Mostly used in technical coaching or boxing talk.
lead — noun
- leadsingular
- leadsplural
1. the position of being in front in a race, game, vote, or other competition.
the position of being in front in a race, game, vote, or other competition.
For the first time all season, Harbor High was in the lead by halftime.
in the lead / take the lead
With a final burst of speed, Zola moved into the lead on the last hill.
By the end of the debate, Christopher had a narrow lead in the student poll.
The blue car lost its lead when it clipped the final corner.
After two strong innings, the Tigers opened up a three-run lead.
- deficit
state of being behind
用法筆記
Often used in the phrases in the lead, take the lead, and hold the lead.
2. an example, idea, or first action that other people decide to follow.
an example, idea, or first action that other people decide to follow.
When the manager stayed late, the rest of the team followed her lead.
follow someone's lead
No one spoke until Zayd took the lead and asked the first question.
Several smaller clubs took their lead from the national union.
Children often take their lead from the adults around them.
- example
broader and less tied to taking action first
- initiative
focuses more on starting action than on being copied
用法筆記
Common in follow someone's lead and take the lead. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about being ahead in a competition.
3. information that points you toward the truth or helps you solve a difficult case
information that points you toward the truth or helps you solve a difficult case or problem.
A call from a taxi driver gave police a useful lead in the case.
a lead in a case / inquiry
Reporters followed a fresh lead about the missing budget files.
The nurse's note provided the first lead in the hospital inquiry.
Without a solid lead, the detectives could not reopen the case.
用法筆記
Often appears in police, reporting, and investigation contexts.
4. the central part in a show, or the performer who has that part.
the central part in a show, or the performer who has that part.
Soraya got the lead in the school musical after the final audition.
get / play the lead
The director wanted an older actor for the male lead.
Christopher sang backup last year but plays the lead this season.
Reviewers praised Nila as the lead in the new crime series.
- star
less exact; can mean the most famous performer rather than the central role
- protagonist
literary term for the main character, not usually the actor
- supporting role
important but not central part
用法筆記
The noun can name either the role or the performer, depending on context.
常見錯誤
5. a flexible wire that connects an electrical device to the power supply.
a flexible wire that connects an electrical device to the power supply.
The kettle's lead was too short to reach the wall socket.
British English: electrical lead
Please keep the vacuum lead away from the wet floor.
Felipe wrapped the laptop lead neatly before putting it in the drawer.
- cord
the usual word in American English
用法筆記
Mostly British English. American English more often uses cord.
6. a rope or strap attached to a dog or other animal so you can control it while wa
a rope or strap attached to a dog or other animal so you can control it while walking.
Anong kept the terrier on a lead near the road.
on a lead
Dogs must be on a lead inside the nature reserve.
The puppy chewed through its lead in the park.
At the station, the guide dog waited calmly at the end of its lead.
- leash
the normal word in American English
用法筆記
Mostly British English. In American English, leash is the everyday word.
7. the first punch in a boxing exchange.
the first punch in a boxing exchange.
The taller fighter threw a quick lead with his left hand.
boxing: first punch
Coach Rivera praised Zayd for landing the opening lead.
After two cautious rounds, Christopher stepped in behind a stiff lead.
用法筆記
Used mainly in boxing commentary or coaching.
lead — adjective
- leadpositive
- leadercomparative
- leadestsuperlative
1. describing the main performer, part, or position in a show, team, or project.
describing the main performer, part, or position in a show, team, or project.
Élise won the lead role in the winter play.
lead role / lead actor
The lead guitarist opened the concert alone under blue lights.
Our lead designer approved the final logo before lunch.
Zola spoke to the lead engineer about the bridge model.
- supporting
secondary rather than main
用法筆記
Often appears before role, actor, singer, counsel, engineer, or designer to name the most important person in that position.
lead — noun
- leadsingular
- leadsplural
1. a poisonous grey metal used in things such as batteries, old pipes, and protecti
a poisonous grey metal used in things such as batteries, old pipes, and protective shielding.
Old paint in the apartment tested positive for lead.
lead as a toxic metal
Workers wore gloves while melting lead for the fishing weights.
Doctors warned the village about lead in the drinking water.
The museum showed Roman water pipes made from lead.
用法筆記
Often discussed in health, building, or industrial contexts because the metal is poisonous.
2. the dark writing material inside a pencil or mechanical pencil.
the dark writing material inside a pencil or mechanical pencil.
The sharpener snapped the pencil lead in half.
pencil lead / mechanical pencil lead
Mina pressed too hard and broke the lead again.
Please buy 0.5 mm lead for my mechanical pencil.
The art teacher asked for softer lead to shade the apple.
- pencil core
clear descriptive phrase rather than the usual everyday word
用法筆記
The material is actually graphite, but ordinary English still calls it lead.