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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Yeah, well, there's a difference between is and odd (ph) and what is right now is Donald Trump is the front-runner.
—
ABC News, 6 Aug. 2023
The aides’ involvement in the legal cases could further complicate their scheduling and discussions with the candidate, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, who relies on a relatively small staff.
—Isaac Arnsdorf and Josh Dawsey, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Aug. 2023
Trump’s team said that was too soon, and the best way for the former president to get a fair trial is to wait until after the 2024 presidential election, in which Trump is the early Republican front-runner.
—Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2023
One-third of the field (nine of 27 cars) failed to finish the race in its inaugural showing in 2021 – a race won by a driver in Marcus Ericsson whose car went airborne, was penalized and made three more pitstops than the rest of the front-runners, yet still come out on-top.
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Aug. 2023
What this means for the Republican front-runner, who pled not guilty to all four counts, is juggling court appearances from New York to possibly Georgia, and a presidential campaign for the foreseeable future.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 5 Aug. 2023
Andrews, a sophomore, appears to be the early front-runner to start at point guard but could be pushed by Vide.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2023
Still, several of the architects are veterans of the Trump administration, and their recommendations match positions held by former President Donald J. Trump, the current front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination.
—Lisa Friedman, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2023
The latest indictment came as Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, already faced more than 70 state and federal charges, plus a handful of ongoing investigations and legal battles related to his time in the White House and his private business dealings.
—BostonGlobe.com, 4 Aug. 2023
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ABC News, 6 Aug. 2023
The aides’ involvement in the legal cases could further complicate their scheduling and discussions with the candidate, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, who relies on a relatively small staff.
—Isaac Arnsdorf and Josh Dawsey, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Aug. 2023
Trump’s team said that was too soon, and the best way for the former president to get a fair trial is to wait until after the 2024 presidential election, in which Trump is the early Republican front-runner.
—Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2023
One-third of the field (nine of 27 cars) failed to finish the race in its inaugural showing in 2021 – a race won by a driver in Marcus Ericsson whose car went airborne, was penalized and made three more pitstops than the rest of the front-runners, yet still come out on-top.
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Aug. 2023
What this means for the Republican front-runner, who pled not guilty to all four counts, is juggling court appearances from New York to possibly Georgia, and a presidential campaign for the foreseeable future.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 5 Aug. 2023
Andrews, a sophomore, appears to be the early front-runner to start at point guard but could be pushed by Vide.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2023
Still, several of the architects are veterans of the Trump administration, and their recommendations match positions held by former President Donald J. Trump, the current front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination.
—Lisa Friedman, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2023
The latest indictment came as Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, already faced more than 70 state and federal charges, plus a handful of ongoing investigations and legal battles related to his time in the White House and his private business dealings.
—BostonGlobe.com, 4 Aug. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'front-runner.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Articles Related to front-runner
Dictionary Entries Near front-runner
Cite this Entry
“Front-runner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front-runner. Accessed 20 Aug. 2023.
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