leading

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   present participle and gerund of lead

   I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town.

2. 2
   adj

   Providing guidance or direction.

   Avoid leading questions if you really want the truth.

3. 3
   adj

   Ranking first.

   He is a leading supplier of plumbing supplies in the county.

4. 4
   adj

   Occurring in advance; preceding.

   The stock market can be a leading economic indicator.

5. 5
   noun

   An act by which one is led or guided.

   It has been said that we ought not to force our way, but to wait for the openings, and leadings of Providence; but it might with equal propriety be answered in this case, neither ought we to neglect embracing those openings in providence which daily present themselves to us.

6. 6
   noun

   Command of an army or military unit.

   Art thou but Captaine of a thouſand horſe, That by Characters grauen in thy browes, And by thy martiall face and ſtout aſpect, Deſeru’ſt to haue the leading of an hoſte?

7. 7
   adj

   greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement

8. 8
   adj

   going or proceeding or going in advance

Etymology

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.