1
as in has-been
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2
as in entrant
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Example Sentences
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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.
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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.
Noun
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Thirty-two entrants move on to the single-elimination stage, which begins on Sunday afternoon.
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The grand prize of the competition is a $100,000 home renovation, alongside $500 gift cards awarded to 100 top entrants, and $100 in spending money for another 50 winners.
Noun
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The two companies have vied to place their products in neonatal intensive care units, which serve as entry points to hospital contracts and the retail market, KFF Health News reported in a March article based largely on records from court cases.
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Cannes Lions reported a significant jump to 40% of entries using AI, indicating agencies are openly embracing the technology.
Cite this Entry
“Also-ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/also-ran. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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