contender
noun
con·tend·er
kən-ˈten-dər 
: one that contends
especially
: a competitor for a championship or high honor
a heavyweight title contender
the leading presidential contenders
Examples of contender in a Sentence
There are several contestants, but only two real contenders.
This latest defeat means that she's no longer a contender for the world title.
Recent Examples on the Web
In his 10 years as a presidential contender Donald Trump has always benefited politically by attacking immigrants, winning support for his promises of a hardline border crackdown.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2025
Chanel Chance Eau Splendide Eau de Parfum $143 NORDSTROM
West stands by Chanel’s latest fragrance as a top contender for summer.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025
Ramsey reportedly wants to play for a contender, according to Outkick’s Armando Salguero.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
With enterprise customers like Uber and PepsiCo and an expanding presence on the analyst radar, the company is positioning itself as a serious contender in the security automation and AI orchestration space.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contender
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2025
Chanel Chance Eau Splendide Eau de Parfum $143 NORDSTROM
West stands by Chanel’s latest fragrance as a top contender for summer.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025
Ramsey reportedly wants to play for a contender, according to Outkick’s Armando Salguero.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
With enterprise customers like Uber and PepsiCo and an expanding presence on the analyst radar, the company is positioning itself as a serious contender in the security automation and AI orchestration space.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contender
Cite this Entry
“Contender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contender. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share