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.
The crop of more traditional homegrown contenders is packed, even without an outstanding front-runner. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 This gap in medicine is also a potentially massive market for drugmakers, which are advancing experimental treatments for the risk factor through late-stage trials, including front-runner Novartis. — Andrew Joseph, STAT, 26 Aug. 2026 Jones still seems to be the front-runner to get the Week 1 nod. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The Miami Hurricanes, on paper, enter the 2026 season as a front-runner to contend for a national championship. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for front-runner

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Browse Nearby Words

front room
front-runner
front sight
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Cite this Entry

“Front-runner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/front-runner. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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