also-ran

noun

al·​so-ran ˈȯl(t)-(ˌ)sō-ˌran 

ˈȯ-

1

: a horse or dog that finishes out of the money in a race

2

: a contestant that does not win

3

: one that is of little importance especially competitively

… taking the club from an also-ran to a dominant force.

—Pan Pylas

Examples of also-ran in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Twentieth Century Fox had bet big on a blockbuster hit, but a real-life tragedy four months earlier ensured the film was doomed to be an also-ran at the box office. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 27 June 2026

Zidane steals the show France had been considered also-rans in the tournament, always falling short despite spectacular individual performances from players such as Just Fontaine and Michel Platini in previous editions. — Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 June 2026

And on that question, the gap between the companies that control their own silicon and software and the companies that lease it is the gap that will separate the winners from the also-rans. — Sarwant Singh, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

The Warriors might be able to keep up with the Timberwolves, Suns, Lakers, or even the Nuggets, but those are also-rans, too. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

also-ran

noun

al·​so-ran

-ˌran

1

: a horse or dog that does not finish in the first three places in a race

2

: a contestant that does not win