1
as in has-been
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2
as in entrant
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Recent Examples of also-ran
Sullivan became as synonymous with the Penguins as any of his star players in the past 10 years, even as Pittsburgh became an also-ran, winning just one playoff round since those back-to-back titles.
—
Arthur Staple, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Gwendolyn Brooks, Chicago’s Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, wrote of life’s also-rans
Gwendolyn Brooks grew up in a South Side house full of books and was a poet from an early age, eventually becoming the first Black to win a Pulitzer Prize in poetry.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2025
The idea is not to fill the Kentucky Derby gate with also-rans.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
The anticlimactic contest between two West also-rans missing three All-Stars tips off at 7 p.m. PT.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for also-ran
Arthur Staple, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Gwendolyn Brooks, Chicago’s Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, wrote of life’s also-rans
Gwendolyn Brooks grew up in a South Side house full of books and was a poet from an early age, eventually becoming the first Black to win a Pulitzer Prize in poetry.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2025
The idea is not to fill the Kentucky Derby gate with also-rans.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
The anticlimactic contest between two West also-rans missing three All-Stars tips off at 7 p.m. PT.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for also-ran
Recent Examples of Synonyms for also-ran
Noun
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On June 8, Nicole Scherzinger, 46, won her first Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her role as Norma Desmond, a has-been staging a comeback in Sunset Blvd, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway adaptation of the 1950 film by the same name.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
9 June 2025
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Sun-soaked, punk rock ’70s California, a fraught family safari in Africa, a frustrated has-been and a digital future portrayed in a PowerPoint presentation show how disparate lives can affect each other.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Last September, more than 16,000 students were named semifinalists for being the highest-scoring entrants from each state, with proportions based on each state’s total of graduating seniors.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 June 2025
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Report Since the podcast episode has been uploaded, it has been announced that Uso was the mystery entrant in the King of the Ring tournament that had yet to be announced.—
Jeremy Hanna,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Noun
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The eighth entry in Tom Cruise’s 29-year-old action franchise has amassed $149 million in North America and $450 million worldwide to date.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
8 June 2025
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Enter through the front door at the left side of this porch and you will be greeted by an entry foyer and open floor plan.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Also-ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/also-ran. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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