contender

noun con·tend·er \ kən-ˈten-dər \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Examples: contender in a Sentence

Definition of contender

: one that contends; especially : a competitor for a championship or high honor

a heavyweight title contender

the leading presidential contenders

See contender defined for English-language learners

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 of contender from the Web

And don't forget about some of the contenders hanging around the periphery.

— jim ayello, Indianapolis Star, "IndyCar midseason review, part III: What's still to come," 17 June 2018
She was seen as the most moderate and tech-friendly candidate of the top four contenders.

— trisha thadani, San Francisco Chronicle, "London Breed as mayor has the tech industry excited. Will it last?," 15 June 2018
But this much is clear: In practices open to the media, Fales — who was third on the depth chart last year — has been clearly the best of the three contenders for the No. 2 QB job, outplaying both Brock Osweiler and Bryce Petty.

— barry jackson, miamiherald, "Here's what a Dolphins quarterback is doing that's 'remarkable'," 14 June 2018
Soccer’s FIFA World Cup is coming to the United States in 2026, as part of a three-country bid, and Miami is one of the contenders to be a host site.

— lisa j. huriash, Sun-Sentinel.com, "What the 2026 soccer World Cup could mean for South Florida," 13 June 2018
Three of the top contenders are King Ahab of Israel, King Hazael of Aram-Damascus and King Ethbaal of Tyre.

— meilan solly, Smithsonian, "Could This Sculpted Head Depict a Little-Known Biblical King?," 11 June 2018
Look at the World Cup rosters of the top 10 contenders according to international oddsmakers, the rarefied air the U.S. hopes to breathe one day.

— mark zeigler, sandiegouniontribune.com, "What's changed since U.S. failed to qualify for 2018 World Cup? Sadly, nothing," 11 June 2018
There are plenty of other worthy contenders in the rich sporting history of Detroit.

— shawn windsor, Detroit Free Press, "1 G.O.A.T. to rule 'em all? Who's the greatest in Detroit team sports?," 10 June 2018
The problem for the GOP is that none of the contenders in Tuesday's primary appear to meet those requirements.

— eric bradner, CNN, "Republicans haven't won statewide in Virginia since 2009. Tuesday's Senate primary shows why," 9 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'contender.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of contender

see contend

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1547

in the meaning defined above

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contender Synonyms

Other General Sports Terms

kegler, mulligan, rappel, turkey

CONTENDER Defined for English Language Learners

contender

noun

Definition of contender for English Language Learners

: a person who tries to win something in a contest; especially : a person who has a good chance of winning

CONTENDER Defined for Kids

contender

noun con·tend·er \ kən-ˈten-dər \

Definition of contender for Students

: a person who is in competition with others

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See words that rhyme with contender Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for contender Spanish Central: Translation of contender Nglish: Translation of contender for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of contender for Arabic speakers

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contender

Definition of contender

Examples of contender in a Sentence

Recent Examples of contender from the Web

Origin and Etymology of contender

contender Synonyms

Synonyms

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Other General Sports Terms

CONTENDER Defined for English Language Learners

contender

Definition of contender for English Language Learners

CONTENDER Defined for Kids

contender

Definition of contender for Students

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