# leading

/ˈɫidɪŋ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/leading
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. most important or successful

adjective · CEFR B1

being the most important, successful, or famous in a particular group or field.

For teachers: occupying the first or most prominent position in a hierarchy, field, or competition.

- She is a leading expert in the study of ancient languages.
- The company maintained its position as the leading manufacturer of renewable energy components despite increased competition from overseas markets.

### 2. providing guidance

adjective · CEFR B2

giving direction or showing the way to others.

For teachers: serving to guide, direct, or influence the path or behavior of others.

- The teacher asked a leading question to help the student find the answer.
- The judge cautioned the lawyer against asking leading questions that suggested the desired answer to the witness.

### 3. in the front

adjective · CEFR B1

being at the front of a group or moving ahead of others.

For teachers: positioned at the front or occurring in advance of others in a sequence.

- The leading runner was far ahead of the rest of the group.
- The leading car in the convoy had to slow down to allow the heavy trucks behind it to catch up on the steep hill.

### 4. line spacing

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the amount of space between lines of printed text.

For teachers: the vertical distance between the baselines of successive lines of type. Pronounced to rhyme with 'bedding'.

- You should increase the leading to make the long paragraph easier to read.
- The graphic designer adjusted the leading and kerning to ensure the movie poster was legible from a distance.

Usage: In modern digital design, this is often referred to as line height.

### 5. guidance

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of being led or guided by someone or something.

For teachers: the action or instance of providing guidance or leadership.

- Under his leading, the small team managed to finish the project on time.
- The community looked for spiritual leading during the crisis, hoping for a clear path forward.

## Examples

- She is a leading expert in modern history.
- The company is a leading manufacturer of electric cars, holding the largest market share in the country.
- As a leading figure in the civil rights movement, he spent decades advocating for legislative changes that would ensure equal protection under the law for all citizens.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.