led

verb

Definition of lednext
past tense of lead
1
as in steered
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front an enthusiastic docent led our group through the art museum

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in commanded
to serve as leader of a senior programmer is leading the team that is developing the new accounting software

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in accompanied
to be at the front of the local high school's marching band led the parade

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in went
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction this old road leads to an abandoned quarry

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5
as in guided
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed the salesclerk led us through the maze of options now available to television buyers

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of led Its foray into dealmaking has led many in media to wonder if Netflix could be on the hunt for another opportunity. — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 Mladic first led a Serb insurgency in Croatia before taking over the Bosnian Serb army that was backed by Serbia and then-President Slobodan Milosevic, who also died in the custody of the Hague court in 2006 while on trial for genocide. — Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 The most dangerous thing about North Carolina’s offense is that it’s led by offensive guru Bobby Petrino, who just helped Arkansas have a top-25 offense last season. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026 Painstaking analysis of 319 tons of wreckage and thousands of pieces of evidence from a crime scene covering 845 square miles, along with thousands of interviews in 16 countries, eventually led investigators to two Libyan intelligence operatives. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 Aug. 2026 If the defense can improve to better than Historically Abysmal, a breathtaking offense led by QB Dak Prescott, WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens and RB Javonte Williams should get Dallas at least to the playoffs. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 The same phones also led in Q4 2025, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max led that quarter, with the iPhone 17 coming in second. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 27 Aug. 2026 Rookie De'Zhaun Stribling and KhaDarel Hodge led the 49ers' receiving corps with 4 catches for 46 yards apiece. — CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026 García, who led the National League in slugging before getting traded, now has 25 homers on the season. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for led
  1. steered
  2. commanded
  3. accompanied
  4. went
  5. guided
  6. headed
  7. preceded
  8. extended
Verb
  • Ever mindful of the job at hand, Parton gently steered us back to the awards show, though not before turning to Brooks with a little smile.
    — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Three years ago, 79% of Gen Z respondents told Jobber’s Blue Collar Report that their parents had steered them toward four-year college, and only 5% considered vocational school an option.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of steered
Verb
  • While the Royal Navy still commanded the seas, Britain itself had few options.
    — David Szondy August 30, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Fourteen years after geeking out over his MSG debut, Styles, now 32, commanded the storied building with new authority, electricity, and dazzling production value that elevated it above any of the six shows of his I’ve seen before.
    — Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of commanded
Verb
  • Be sure to watch for Ralphie running across the field (hopefully accompanied by her handlers) and Uga's shenanigans.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Gunn wrote in his post, accompanied by two photographs with the crew.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of accompanied
Verb
  • The Sox went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 14 on base while falling in the opener of the four-game series.
    — LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Other questions still linger, including where Lahti’s car went.
    — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of went
Verb
  • Second-quarter total sales and same-store sales lagged expectations, and Burlington guided third-quarter earnings per share and same-store sales below Wall Street estimates, according to StreetAccount.
    — Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The footage shows contestants happily enduring all sorts of mayhem, while being guided by the voice of the late actor Gene Wilder, who famously played Willy Wonka in the 1971 movie.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of guided
Verb
  • Amaya said there is little doubt that the ongoing El Niño is headed for an extraordinary peak intensity, given how much heat lurks just beneath the surface of the tropical Pacific, destined to rise up over time.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Sure enough, Heyward and Freeman headed south that day — still driving separately because of their differing morning routines.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of headed
Verb
  • Blockbuster trades for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and two-time defensive player of the year Myles Garrett preceded Donald's decision to dust off his cleats and pads.
    — Jim Reineking, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The internationally recognized Israel, with the borders that preceded its 1967 conquests?
    — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of preceded
Verb
  • The change in leadership comes less than two years after UCLA extended Jarmond’s contract through June 2029.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Its graphics processing capabilities were repeatedly extended into new arenas, most consequentially AI computing.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of extended

Browse Nearby Words

lecturing
led
ledger
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Cite this Entry

“Led.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/led. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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