in the lead

adjectives

having the leading position or higher score in a contest

"he is ahead by a pawn"; "the leading team in the pennant race"

adverbs

leading or ahead in a competition

"the horse was three lengths ahead going into the home stretch"; "ahead by two pawns"; "our candidate is in the lead in the polls"; "way out front in the race"; "the advertising campaign put them out front in sales"

ahead, in the lead, out front