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
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
The Four Seasons joins a host of potential Emmy Award contenders premiering in the final weeks of the 2024-25 eligibility period, which ends May 31.
—
Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025
And, if Muhammad gets through his upcoming title defense against Australian contender Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 later this summer, a rematch between the pair could be on the cards.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Mastro first emerged as a contender in Adams’ administration when Adams nominated him last year to become the city government’s corporation counsel.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
Yale’s scrappy Bulldogs counting on altitude, attitude to bust your NCAA Tournament bracket
Renck vs. Keeler: Are defensively challenged Nuggets cooked as championship contenders?
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contender
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.
Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025
And, if Muhammad gets through his upcoming title defense against Australian contender Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 later this summer, a rematch between the pair could be on the cards.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Mastro first emerged as a contender in Adams’ administration when Adams nominated him last year to become the city government’s corporation counsel.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
Yale’s scrappy Bulldogs counting on altitude, attitude to bust your NCAA Tournament bracket
Renck vs. Keeler: Are defensively challenged Nuggets cooked as championship contenders?
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contender
Cite this Entry
“Contender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contender. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share