Led is the past tense of the verb lead, which means to guide, direct, or show the way. When someone led a group, they were in charge and helped others know what to do or where to go. A teacher might have led her class on a field trip last month. A captain might have led their team to victory in yesterday's championship game.

The word appears constantly in history. George Washington led the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Explorers like Lewis and Clark led expeditions into unknown territory. In your own life, you might have led your younger siblings safely across a busy street, or led a group project by organizing everyone's tasks.

Leading involves inspiring others to follow willingly. Good leaders make decisions, take responsibility, and help the group succeed. When you read that someone led others, pay attention to how they did it: through courage, wisdom, good example, or careful planning.

Be careful not to confuse led with lead (pronounced “led”), which is a heavy gray metal. They sound identical but mean completely different things.