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
Examples of front-runner in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Multiple network insiders said Tuesday afternoon that no clear front-runner has emerged for James, but that money will not drive the decision.
—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
The front-runners for Maid of Honor include Abigail Anderson, Avignone, and Gomez.
—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
29 June 2026
The exception is Love Story, and its pilot should be a front-runner for this category.
—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
25 June 2026
The Directing for a Drama Series has nominated multiple episodes from at least one series in ten of the last 11 years (last year, both The Pitt and Severance got double nominations), so loading up in this category doesn’t seem like a bad idea for the front-runners.
—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for front-runner
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Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
The front-runners for Maid of Honor include Abigail Anderson, Avignone, and Gomez.
—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
29 June 2026
The exception is Love Story, and its pilot should be a front-runner for this category.
—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
25 June 2026
The Directing for a Drama Series has nominated multiple episodes from at least one series in ten of the last 11 years (last year, both The Pitt and Severance got double nominations), so loading up in this category doesn’t seem like a bad idea for the front-runners.
—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for front-runner
Cite this Entry
“Front-runner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front-runner. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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