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"leading" is also used as a crossword clue. If that's what you saw, the answer is often foremost (8 letters).
Definitions
Most important; in front
Word origin
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.
Used in a sentence
“Avoid leading questions if you really want the truth.”
“He is a leading supplier of plumbing supplies in the county.”
“The stock market can be a leading economic indicator.”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer1 curated clues
01“Foremost”7 letters
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