front-runner

noun

front-run·​ner ˈfrənt-ˌrə-nər How to pronounce front-runner (audio)
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
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Political identity Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (center) has consistently been the front-runner in public polling for Georgia’s Democratic primary for governor. Adam Beam, AJC.com, 21 Apr. 2026 The Democratic front-runner was raking in endorsements from interest groups and democratic politicians. Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026 Another recent poll from Emerson College, conducted in late March, found Donalds leading the two Democratic front-runners for governor, Jolly and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, by five points and nine points, respectively. Shauna Muckle, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026 Of course, as a front-runner in the industry, Anthropic is also moving aggressively in hardware. John Werner, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for front-runner

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of front-runner was in 1896

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Cite this Entry

“Front-runner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front-runner. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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