play a leading role vs take a leading role

Both 'play a leading role' and 'take a leading role' are correct and commonly used phrases in English. They are interchangeable and can be used to describe someone who has an important or influential position in a particular situation.

Last updated: March 22, 2024

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 influential position in a particular situation, such as in a movie, play, or project.

Examples:

She played a leading role in the company's expansion strategy.
The actor played a leading role in the blockbuster movie.
He played a leading role in the negotiations.

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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:

have a leading role
perform a leading role
assume a leading role
fulfill a leading role
occupy a leading role

take 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 influential position in a particular situation, such as in a movie, play, or project.

Examples:

She took a leading role in organizing the event.
The CEO took a leading role in the company's restructuring.
He took a leading role in the development of the new product.

Show examples from the web [+]

I should like us to take a leading role in this work.
The European Union must take a leading role in the work towards global sustainability.
Tomorrow's Europe must take a leading role in international politics, in a fair, mutually supportive and balanced relationship with the United States, as you said yourself in your speech.
In the absence of a serious cooperation policy for development, where Europe must take a leading role, we will be condemning part of the world to a certain and inevitable future of poverty and despair.
The European Union should therefore take a leading role in introducing legislation.
We need to act, and Europe has to take a leading role in this.
Madam President, the Commission should 'take a leading role in promoting a service culture'.
It is for this reason that we believe that Europe and the European Union have to take a leading role in combating all these challenges.
proven capacity to take a leading role in international fora,
However, the ECB should not take a leading role here as a too strong involvement in monitoring of programmes might weaken its independence.
I agree with her emphasis on the political nature of this problem and welcome her call for us to take a leading role.
The EU must take a leading role in the quest for a speedy solution.
A freeze on production of hydrochlorofluorocarbons would reflect that need and the Community's determination to take a leading role in this respect.
The European Parliament has the opportunity to take a leading role in supporting the Council's efforts to create a new global system for the protection of human rights.
Europe can be a driving force behind reinforcing global coordination and should take a leading role in international debates in this area, and this first requires European countries to work together and agree on internal solutions.
First of all, we should take a leading role in creating a new, global world, featuring new challenges and the emergence of new actors.
The EU has to take a leading role in this process and help to find solutions that avoid exacerbating the conflict that is currently occurring in this country.
Once again, it is up to the European Union to take a leading role in the climate change negotiations and make an active contribution so that Cancún results in more constructive, transparent and bold commitments.
It is now, more than ever, when the international community is showing signs of being fatigued by a seemingly never-ending crisis, that the EU must take a leading role.
That must give us pause for thought, because we are always emphasising the fact that we are the ones who want to take a leading role in the global fight against climate change.

Alternatives:

assume a leading role
fulfill a leading role
occupy a leading role
have a leading role
perform a leading role

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play a leading role vs take a leading role