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 key moment was the 2015 election when front-runner presidential candidate Edward Lowassa was disqualified and John Magufuli nominated instead.
—
Yonatan Morse, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
The announcement is a stunning pivot given that Stefanik was considered the front-runner by most political observers in the GOP primary next year to unseat Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
The tastemakers did their dirty work, now Paul Thomas Anderson’s film will head into the New Year in the most dominant position of any front-runner in over a decade.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Trump told The Wall Street Journal on Friday that Warsh is a top contender for the role, joining National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett as a front-runner to succeed Jerome Powell.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for front-runner
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Yonatan Morse, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
The announcement is a stunning pivot given that Stefanik was considered the front-runner by most political observers in the GOP primary next year to unseat Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
The tastemakers did their dirty work, now Paul Thomas Anderson’s film will head into the New Year in the most dominant position of any front-runner in over a decade.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Trump told The Wall Street Journal on Friday that Warsh is a top contender for the role, joining National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett as a front-runner to succeed Jerome Powell.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2025
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 24 Dec. 2025.
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