Synonyms for lead
- verb
- noun
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Take — to guide or conduct. To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to…
take, conduct, direct, guide, bring, command, influence, induce, control, determine, entice, persuade, hand, rule, escort, dispose, convoy
3. Contribute
contribute, conduce formal
Noun
2. Lead-in
lead-in, introduction, lede US, standfirst rare UK
Other
leadership, direction, lead-out, principal, guidance, star, precedence, spear-head, marshall, priority, pencil lead, booster cable
Definitions
- v. 1
To guide or conduct. To draw or direct by influence, whether good or bad; to prevail on; to induce; to entice; to allure.
to lead someone to a righteous cause
- v. 2
To cover, fill, or affect with lead.
continuous firing leads the grooves of a rifle.
- n. 1
A heavy, pliable, inelastic metal element, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished; both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic number 82.
- n. 2
A plummet or mass of lead attached to a line, used in sounding depth at sea or to estimate velocity in knots.
Related words
- Word family
- leader leading
- Phrases
- lead astray lead to white lead lead on lead off lead character lead poisoning lead tenant
Choose the right word
To drive is to move an object with some force or violence before or away from oneself; it is the direct reverse of draw, lead, etc.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- bring Every person is expected to bring their own lunch.
- induce Moderate exercise in the evening helps induce sleep.
- extend I want to extend my stay here for a few more days.
- top When it comes to snoring, no one can top Mr Snore.
- result As regards the result, you need not worry so much.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| lead | steady | |
| bring | steady | |
| induce | steady | |
| extend | falling | |
| top | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 2 letters
- go1
- 3 letters
- top1, run1, tip1
- 4 letters
- work1, take1, head1, hand1, star1, pass1, rule1, draw1, wind1, tend1, hint1, lede, leam
- 5 letters
- bring1, spend1, track1, guide1, serve1, chair1, trail1, steer1, leash1
- 6 letters
- result2, direct2, extend2, escort2, convoy2, induce2, entice2, tether2
- 7 letters
- control2, command2, conduct2, dispose2, precede2, conduce
- 8 letters
- priority4, moderate3, guidance2, marshall2, headline2, persuade2, commence2
- 9 letters
- direction3, influence3, determine3, principal3
- 10 letters
- leadership3, contribute3, precedence3, inaugurate4, standfirst
- 12 letters
- introduction4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (result2 = 2 syllables).