1
as in has-been
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2
as in entrant
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Recent Examples of also-ran
The thinktank session was held at the rambling 40-acre Mettawa estate of another presidential also-ran, Adlai Stevenson II.
—
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The past master of the universe is an economic colossus but, strategically, its civilization is an also-ran.
—Josef Joffe, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Six years before Maye was drafted, Darnold was selected third overall, too, by an AFC East also-ran.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
Google’s cloud business, once an also-ran, is growing steadily, thanks in part to the global rush to develop AI services and demand for compute.
—Mark Bergen, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for also-ran
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The past master of the universe is an economic colossus but, strategically, its civilization is an also-ran.
—Josef Joffe, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Six years before Maye was drafted, Darnold was selected third overall, too, by an AFC East also-ran.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
Google’s cloud business, once an also-ran, is growing steadily, thanks in part to the global rush to develop AI services and demand for compute.
—Mark Bergen, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for also-ran
Recent Examples of Synonyms for also-ran
Noun
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In the Seventies, he was mocked as a Vegas has-been in a jumpsuit; in the Eighties, as a cultural colonizer.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
19 Feb. 2026
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When her estranged daughter unexpectedly moves into their crumbling Manhattan townhouse, the TV has-been is confronted with the one role she’s spent her entire life avoiding: motherhood.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Hodara was not the only raffle entrant who bought their ticket on a whim.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Hotel The Olympia Sydney After years of being mummified in scaffolding on Oxford Street, the former West Olympia Theatre has reemerged as 25hours Hotel The Olympia, a riotously fun, high-voltage new entrant to Sydney’s hotel scene.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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However, significant barriers to entry remain, with access to both club and international matches highly limited.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
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In a converted 1909 Cow Hollow house near the marina and the Presidio, this home has a private entry and garden, and features a large picture window, a brick- ringed fireplace surrounded by built-ins, and a pass-through alcove kitchen with a Sub-Zero refrigerator.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Also-ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/also-ran. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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