contender
noun
con·tend·er
kən-ˈten-dər 
: one that contends
especially
: a competitor for a championship or high honor
a heavyweight title contender
the leading presidential contenders
Synonyms
Examples of contender in a Sentence
There are several contestants, but only two real contenders.
This latest defeat means that she's no longer a contender for the world title.
Recent Examples on the Web
But, my sources say, a formidable contender has emerged onto the short list following Gitlin’s departure.
—
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2024
This year’s Primetime Emmy nods, where Usher’s halftime show is a likely contender, will be announced on July 17.
Visit www.ApolloTheater.org for more information.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 25 Apr. 2024
The series heads to Tampa with the Florida Panthers looking every bit a Stanley Cup contender.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
Track Jordan Coleman of Granada Hills is gearing up to be a 100 meters contender.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
Chef Danny Garcia, a current Top Chef contender, will lead the kitchen.
—Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024
The show, which has received several nominations and wins via Australian and U.K. TV awards shows, is now a contender on this continent.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024
Lawrence and DiCaprio—who previously co-starred in a very different awards contender, playing cranky astronomers in Adam McKay’s 2021 satire Don’t Look Up—are attached to the new film, per Variety, though its future is still uncertain.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2024
The Royals had been a model expansion franchise, turning a winning season in their third year, and soon becoming a contender.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
Shawn Tully, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2024
This year’s Primetime Emmy nods, where Usher’s halftime show is a likely contender, will be announced on July 17.
Visit www.ApolloTheater.org for more information.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 25 Apr. 2024
The series heads to Tampa with the Florida Panthers looking every bit a Stanley Cup contender.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
Track Jordan Coleman of Granada Hills is gearing up to be a 100 meters contender.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
Chef Danny Garcia, a current Top Chef contender, will lead the kitchen.
—Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024
The show, which has received several nominations and wins via Australian and U.K. TV awards shows, is now a contender on this continent.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024
Lawrence and DiCaprio—who previously co-starred in a very different awards contender, playing cranky astronomers in Adam McKay’s 2021 satire Don’t Look Up—are attached to the new film, per Variety, though its future is still uncertain.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2024
The Royals had been a model expansion franchise, turning a winning season in their third year, and soon becoming a contender.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contender.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near contender
Cite this Entry
“Contender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contender. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
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