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
Luke Nickel is the front-runner, in the wake of the departure of Emory Williams to East Carolina.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
Several other top politicians on the left and the right have expressed presidential ambitions, but none has emerged so far as a clear front-runner.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Chalamet was the apparent front-runner early in the season, having won best actor trophies from the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Penn, who delivers a volatile, darkly comic performance in Anderson’s sprawling political thriller, emerged as the race’s front-runner after a surprise victory at the BAFTA Awards and the Actor Awards, whose voting body overlaps heavily with the motion picture academy.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
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Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
Several other top politicians on the left and the right have expressed presidential ambitions, but none has emerged so far as a clear front-runner.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Chalamet was the apparent front-runner early in the season, having won best actor trophies from the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Penn, who delivers a volatile, darkly comic performance in Anderson’s sprawling political thriller, emerged as the race’s front-runner after a surprise victory at the BAFTA Awards and the Actor Awards, whose voting body overlaps heavily with the motion picture academy.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 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 26 Mar. 2026.
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