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
was just an also-ran in the scramble for … privileges—
C. A. Buss
C. A. BussExamples of also-ran in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Less than a month ago, the Boston Red Sox were a .500 team looking like also-rans in the American League East, sitting 14 games behind first place.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
With the Pac-12’s collapse and the ACC’s struggles to avoid breaking apart at the hands of Florida State and Clemson, the Big 12 has gone from an also-ran to the third-best autonomous conference.
—Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2024
Over time, as the studio attempted to navigate rapidly shifting consumer habits and a volatile streaming landscape, Paramount came to be regarded as something of an also-ran.
—Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2024
Biden is the presumptive power player after crushing also-rans Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) and author Marianne Williamson in Democratic primaries.
—Max Thornberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for also-ran 
David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024
With the Pac-12’s collapse and the ACC’s struggles to avoid breaking apart at the hands of Florida State and Clemson, the Big 12 has gone from an also-ran to the third-best autonomous conference.
—Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2024
Over time, as the studio attempted to navigate rapidly shifting consumer habits and a volatile streaming landscape, Paramount came to be regarded as something of an also-ran.
—Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2024
Biden is the presumptive power player after crushing also-rans Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) and author Marianne Williamson in Democratic primaries.
—Max Thornberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for also-ran
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'also-ran.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Also-ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/also-ran. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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