also-ran
noun
al·so-ran
ˈȯl(t)-(ˌ)sō-ˌran 
ˈȯ-
1
: a horse or dog that finishes out of the money in a race
2
: a contestant that does not win
3
: one that is of little importance especially competitively
was just an also-ran in the scramble for … privileges—
C. A. Buss
C. A. BussExamples of also-ran in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Past also-rans feel much more enjoyable now, too, like Kona, Skater’s Island, and London.
—Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Ah, yes, that most important of all RuPaul’s Drag Race challenges that separates the contenders from the also-rans, the culturally literate from the basics.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 4 July 2025
Cuomo has a lead in the polls, but ranked choice balloting could vault Mamdani to victory if enough supporters of also-rans give him second-place status.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 17 June 2025
Red Bull Salzburg have gone from perennial champions to relative also-rans in Austria.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for also-ran
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Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Ah, yes, that most important of all RuPaul’s Drag Race challenges that separates the contenders from the also-rans, the culturally literate from the basics.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 4 July 2025
Cuomo has a lead in the polls, but ranked choice balloting could vault Mamdani to victory if enough supporters of also-rans give him second-place status.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 17 June 2025
Red Bull Salzburg have gone from perennial champions to relative also-rans in Austria.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for also-ran
Cite this Entry
“Also-ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/also-ran. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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