Lead to meaning
Lead to means to cause something to happen later. It can also mean to go towards a place, used for roads, paths and doors.
lead to something
lead to · led · leading
Too much screen time can lead to poor sleep.
Lead to meanings and examples
2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level from Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and the Cambridge Dictionary.
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1
Cause something to happen later
lead to something
- Too much screen time can lead to poor sleep.
- One small mistake led to a huge argument.
- Did the new road lead to more traffic in town?
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2
Go towards a place, used for roads, paths and doors
lead to something
- This path leads to the beach.
- The door on the left leads to the kitchen.
- Where does that little road lead to?
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use lead to in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is lead to separable?
Lead to is not separable. The result comes after to: lead to problems, lead to it. After to, use a noun or -ing: lead to losing money.
The past is led, not leaded: It led to a fight. Be careful: here to is a preposition, so it is never followed by the base verb.
Verb tenses for lead to
| Present | I lead to · she leads to |
|---|---|
| Past | led to |
| Present perfect | have led to |
| -ing form | leading to |
Common mistakes with lead to
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: Eating late can lead to sleep badly.
Right: Eating late can lead to sleeping badly.
After lead to, use a noun or -ing form.
Wrong: The storm leaded to power cuts.
Right: The storm led to power cuts.
The past of lead is led.
Wrong: This decision will lead to that prices go up.
Right: This decision will lead to higher prices.
Use a noun after lead to, not a that clause.
Synonyms and opposites of lead to
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- bring aboutcause a change, often on purpose
- causethe direct, one-word verb
- result inhave as a result, very close in meaning
Opposite
- result frombe caused by something
- preventstop something from happening
Lead to quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Not drinking enough water can ___ headaches.
Lead to means cause.
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2Choose the right sentence.
Use a noun after lead to.
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3“The stairs lead to the roof.” What does this tell you?
For roads, stairs and doors, lead to means go towards a place.
Find your level
The phrasal verbs test adapts as you answer, from A2 to C1, and shows which ones you miss.
Lead to FAQ
Questions people ask about lead to.
Is lead to followed by -ing?
Yes, or by a noun: lead to losing weight, lead to weight loss. Never use the base verb: lead to lose is wrong.
What is the past tense of lead to?
Led to. It sounds like the colour red with an l: The talks led to a deal.
What is the difference between lead to and result in?
They mean the same. Lead to is a bit more common in speech; result in is common in reports.
Use lead to in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.