Cool MateLead vs Show
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Lead
Top 1,000 (very common)
Show
High-frequency chunkA1verb
| Lead | Show | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //liːd//🇺🇸 //liːd// | 🇬🇧 /["/ʃəʊ/","/ʃəʊz/","/ʃəʊd/","/ʃəʊn/","/ˈʃəʊɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʃəʊ/","/ʃəʊz/","/ʃəʊd/","/ʃəʊn/","/ˈʃəʊɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To show the way or guide someone. | to let someone see something |
| Example | She will lead the meeting tomorrow. | Can you show me how to solve this math problem? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | High-frequency chunk |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | lead a team, lead a discussion, lead by example, lead the way, lead the charge | clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, hardly, begin to, let something, hardly, begin to, let something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something, clearly, conclusively, convincingly, appear to, seem to, go to, to, a chance to show something |
| Antonyms | follow, distract | hide, conceal, cover |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'leed' for the verb and 'lead' for the metal., Using 'lead' as a noun for someone who guides a team, instead of 'leader'., Mixing up present and past forms (leading vs. led). | Confused with 'exhibit' in formal contexts, Using incorrectly as a noun instead of a verb, Confusing the past tense 'showed' with 'shown' |
| Usage notes | Used when guiding or directing people, typically in a formal or informal context. Avoid using it in a literal physical sense when the context is abstract. | Use 'show' when presenting something to someone. Avoid in very formal contexts; instead, use 'demonstrate'. Common in everyday conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Lead vs Show
What's the difference between Lead and Show?
Lead: To show the way or guide someone. Show: to let someone see something
Can you show an example of each?
Lead: She will lead the meeting tomorrow. Show: Can you show me how to solve this math problem?
Can I use Lead and Show interchangeably?
Not always. Lead and Show are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.