play a leading role vs have a leading role

Both "play a leading role" and "have a leading role" are correct and commonly used phrases in English. They can be used interchangeably depending on the context. The choice between them may depend on personal preference or the specific wording of the sentence.

Last updated: March 22, 2024 • 734 views

play a leading role

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to describe someone who has an important or prominent role in a particular situation, such as a movie, play, or project.

Examples:

She played a leading role in the movie.
The CEO played a leading role in the company's expansion.
He played a leading role in the development of the new product.

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The European Union can and must play a leading role in this.
The EU should play a leading role internationally regarding the tackling of environmental issues.
We must learn from these difficulties so that Europe can, once again, play a leading role on the international stage.
The public sector must play a leading role in improving energy efficiency.
Rather more so since Europe can play a leading role in the export of green products and services to the world.
We hope to play a leading role in the negotiations.
The Commission will continue to play a leading role.
The EU should play a leading role in securing agreement to exert this international pressure.
This acceptance will enable the EC to continue to play a leading role in the WTO on the issue of access to medicines.
The European Union is being called upon to play a leading role in this endeavour, in order to formulate an effective, cohesive and targeted aid for trade agenda.
It is of course all well and good if the EU wishes to play a leading role in climate protection.
A social global economic order must replace the free market economy and the United Nations should play a leading role in this.
The European Union must continue to play a leading role and to speak with one voice on environmental issues.
First of all, it is the developed countries which are being called upon to continue to play a leading role.
Given the deep structural global roots of the problem, Europe needs to play a leading role in tackling food prices and food security at global level.
Local and regional authorities should play a leading role in implementing active inclusion policy measures.
That we should make up projects that are meant to help women in DRC to play a leading role in the society.
6c. play a leading role at the international level regarding issues of crisis management and the improvement of the current global supervision arrangements.
Therefore, your rapporteur calls on the Commission to play a leading role in advocating this global food stock system.
On that subject, the European Union has to play a leading role in promoting the development of animal testing at international level.

Alternatives:

take on a leading role
assume a leading role
perform a leading role
fulfill a leading role
occupy a leading role

have a leading role

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is also used to describe someone who has an important or prominent role in a particular situation, such as a movie, play, or project.

Examples:

She had a leading role in the play.
The manager had a leading role in the project.
He has had a leading role in the organization for many years.

Show examples from the web [+]

The ECB and National Central banks should have a leading role in macro-prudential oversight because of their expertise and existing responsibilities in the area of financial stability.
The ECB and the national central banks should have a leading role in macro-prudential oversight because of their expertise and their existing responsibilities in the area of financial stability.
The Authority should have a leading role in the colleges of supervisors supervising cross-border financial market participants and clear supervisory norms for them should be defined.
The European Parliament, as the European institution closest to citizens, with a long-standing commitment to gender equality, should have a leading role and integrate the gender perspective in a coherent and comprehensive way in its political work and in its own structures...
The ECB and the n ational c entral banks should have a leading role in macro-prudential oversight because of their expertise and existing responsibilities in the area of financial stability.
Besides, we must have a leading role for Europe.
This applies to human rights and intercultural dialogue too, where you, the European Parliament, certainly have a leading role.
For the Commission must in fact have a leading role to play.
These documents reiterated the need for closer coordination and complementarity and also the need for the partner country to have a leading role in this process.
The Council should, in principle, have a leading role in the evaluation process, and in particular in its follow-up.
Within the UN family, the ILO is the only organisation that is not only made up of officials and national authorities, but where employers' and employees' organisations equally have a leading role.
Several previous speakers here have emphasised that as the EU, we have a leading role in this area and that we should retain this leading role.
The fact that we now have a leading role in world politics, in the Middle East, Korea, etc., is to a large extent thanks to the work of Anna Lindh, for which I would like to thank her.
She welcomes the strong commitment of the bank to be "The European bank" and to have a leading role in reviving the European economy and to support growth.
The movement tomorrow won't be like any other day And I want you to have a leading role in it, Taha
The Secretary-General/High Representative (SG/HR), in accordance with Article 26 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), should have a leading role in the Agency's structure and provide the essential link between the Agency and the Council.
On this occasion, the European institutions could award symbolic prizes to educational institutions and civil society organisations which have played a leading role in initiating and implementing intercultural dialogue.
I am very proud that Members across this Parliament have played a leading role in supporting the creation of the Convention.
Journalists and bloggers in North Africa have played a leading role in helping to overthrow authoritarian regimes in the last few months, but they have paid a very heavy price.
I believe that in the creation of that Convention spirit, which has been the key to this success, you have played a leading role, Mr President.

Alternatives:

hold a leading role
occupy a leading role
fulfill a leading role
be in a leading role
take on a leading role

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play a leading role vs have a leading role