front-runner
noun
front-run·ner
ˈfrənt-ˌrə-nər 
1
: a contestant who runs best when in the lead
2
: a leading contestant in or as if in a rivalry or competition
a political front-runner
Examples of front-runner in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On Polymarket, traders are pricing Mohseni-Ejei as the narrow front-runner at roughly 18%.
—
Justin Papp,pippa Stevens,dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger,lee Ying Shan,vinay Dwivedi, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
This is a cycle, in other words, in which there is not necessarily a benefit to locking in a front-runner early on.
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
In a crowded election, the front-runner typically is whoever the other candidates are targeting.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen, is seen as front-runner after emerging as a popular figure during the campaign.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for front-runner
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Justin Papp,pippa Stevens,dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger,lee Ying Shan,vinay Dwivedi, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
This is a cycle, in other words, in which there is not necessarily a benefit to locking in a front-runner early on.
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
In a crowded election, the front-runner typically is whoever the other candidates are targeting.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen, is seen as front-runner after emerging as a popular figure during the campaign.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for front-runner
Cite this Entry
“Front-runner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front-runner. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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