leading

Among the most important, successful, or highly placed in a particular area.

• She is a leading scientist.
• He played a leading role in the campaign.
• The company became a leading supplier of medical equipment.

Similar words: top, foremost, prominent

Common phrases: leading company, leading expert, leading role

Giving direction, especially by suggesting the answer someone is expected to give.

• That is a leading question.
• The lawyer asked several leading questions.
• Her leading remarks encouraged the child to agree.

Similar words: suggestive, guiding

Common phrases: leading question, leading questions, leading remark

The seventh note of a musical scale, just below the first note of the next scale.

• The leading note rises to the tonic.
• In C major, B is the leading note.
• The melody pauses on the leading note.

Similar words: leading note, leading tone

Common phrases: leading note, leading tone, raised leading note