have/hold the lead
idiom
: to be in the winning position in a race or competition
A runner from Kenya has/holds the lead.
Examples of have/hold the lead in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Russkies appear to have the lead in the Space Race, the public interest in conquering the stars is waning, and the organization’s funding is on the chopping block.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2024
Yet the Sox hold the lead in the season series between the teams, having won four of the first seven meetings.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2024
But Raley rang up De La Cruz with a sweeper to hold the lead for the Mets.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2024
But the Bobcats would have the lead only two more times the rest of the night.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2024
And the Panthers have the lead Florida took its first lead of the game with 12:29 left in regulation on an Aleksander Barkov goal.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 13 May 2024
But Marlins starter Ryan Weathers couldn’t hold the lead, allowing six runs in four-plus innings.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2024
The Marlins led 5-2 but six relief pitchers were not enough to hold the lead.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
After Mike Trout’s homer put the Angels on the board in the top of the first, Patrick Sandoval failed to hold the lead for even three outs, sending the Angels on their way to an 11-3 Opening Day loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.
—Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 28 Mar. 2024
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2024
Yet the Sox hold the lead in the season series between the teams, having won four of the first seven meetings.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2024
But Raley rang up De La Cruz with a sweeper to hold the lead for the Mets.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2024
But the Bobcats would have the lead only two more times the rest of the night.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2024
And the Panthers have the lead Florida took its first lead of the game with 12:29 left in regulation on an Aleksander Barkov goal.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 13 May 2024
But Marlins starter Ryan Weathers couldn’t hold the lead, allowing six runs in four-plus innings.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2024
The Marlins led 5-2 but six relief pitchers were not enough to hold the lead.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
After Mike Trout’s homer put the Angels on the board in the top of the first, Patrick Sandoval failed to hold the lead for even three outs, sending the Angels on their way to an 11-3 Opening Day loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.
—Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'have/hold the lead.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Cite this Entry
“Have/hold the lead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%2Fhold%20the%20lead. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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