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
The younger Khamenei had long been considered a contender, even before an Israeli strike killed his father at the start of the war, and despite never being elected or appointed to a government position.
—
Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Under former head coach Bart Lundy, Queens was a perennial Division II contender.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2026
The Patriots are not one player away from becoming a perennial Super Bowl contender.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
He was considered a top contender for the role.
—Garrett Downs,azhar Sukri,emma Graham, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contender
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Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Under former head coach Bart Lundy, Queens was a perennial Division II contender.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2026
The Patriots are not one player away from becoming a perennial Super Bowl contender.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
He was considered a top contender for the role.
—Garrett Downs,azhar Sukri,emma Graham, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contender
Cite this Entry
“Contender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contender. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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