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
The Bobcats have won seven of their past eight and defeated several of the front-runners during their late-season run.
—
Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Even as the BAFTAs threw a few curveballs, a few familiar faces—Jessie Buckley, director Paul Thomas Anderson—once again won in their categories, further cementing their front-runner statuses at the upcoming Oscars.
—John Ross, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
Delegates had the chance to officially endorse a party favorite, providing a major lift in a contest with the distinct lack of any obvious front-runner.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Donalds, the front-runner in the GOP primary for the 2026 Florida gubernatorial election, has proposed crypto-friendly policies that could bring the asset’s price back up, potentially providing him with a significant financial windfall.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 22 Feb. 2026
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Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Even as the BAFTAs threw a few curveballs, a few familiar faces—Jessie Buckley, director Paul Thomas Anderson—once again won in their categories, further cementing their front-runner statuses at the upcoming Oscars.
—John Ross, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
Delegates had the chance to officially endorse a party favorite, providing a major lift in a contest with the distinct lack of any obvious front-runner.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Donalds, the front-runner in the GOP primary for the 2026 Florida gubernatorial election, has proposed crypto-friendly policies that could bring the asset’s price back up, potentially providing him with a significant financial windfall.
—Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 22 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 25 Feb. 2026.
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