front-runner

noun

front-run·​ner ˈfrənt-ˌrə-nər How to pronounce front-runner (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Who's out? Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R) State Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, who represents District 12, was seen as an early front-runner in the Republican primary. Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 22 July 2025 In 2018, the BBC leaked potential titles for the upcoming sequels, with the front-runner being The Seed Bearer. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 22 July 2025 Flacco seems to be the front-runner for the Week 1 job with Pickett close behind him. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025 Mamdani has many specific attributes and won in a very unusual kind of primary where an incumbent mayor had left the party and the front-runner was dragging heavy baggage. Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 18 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for front-runner

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of front-runner was in 1896

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Cite this Entry

“Front-runner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front-runner. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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