Crossword Genius

Line gained ground at the front (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

leading

'the front' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'line gained ground' is the wordplay.
'line' becomes 'l' (used when specifying particular lines from a poem).
'ground' indicates an anagram ('grind' the letters into a new form).
'gained' with letters rearranged gives 'eading'.
'l'+'eading'='LEADING'

'at' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for leading that I've seen before include "Guiding by going in front" , "In the chair" , "Most important; ahead" , "Principal" , "Prominent" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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