Front-runner
n.capable, hopefuleveryday
What it means
The leading or most likely successful competitor.
Reach for it when naming the competitor or option currently most likely to succeed
Her low-cost design emerged as the clear front-runner.
Choose between these
6- everyday
expectations or betting strongly favor one contender
not when The favorite may not currently lead.
- everyday
current rank is the only relevant fact
not when A leader may be ahead by very little and not favored to win.
- warm
likely winner
plain language should state the forecast
not when Likely winner overstates evidence when the race remains close.
- professional
leading contender
one strong candidate is ahead without certainty
not when The phrase is measured but lacks front-runner's compactness.
- professional
top candidate
selection rather than competition is involved
not when Top candidate can be one of several and may not be publicly ranked.
- literary
pacesetter
the leader establishes the speed or standard
not when Pacesetter implies influence on others, not merely likely success.
Said against
4- underdog
- trailer
- outsider
- also-ran
It naturally appears in
3- clear front-runner
Her low-cost design became the clear front-runner.
- emerge as front-runner
The repair plan could emerge as front-runner.
- current front-runner
The current front-runner still faces a final review.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English noun sense: leading competitor opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.