contender

noun

con·​tend·​er kən-ˈten-dər How to pronounce contender (audio)
: 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
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.
Upside is something the Nationals and White Sox are hoping for with a pitcher not a contender. David O'Brien, The Athletic, 10 Dec. 2024 Find out which of the contenders who were nominated will win or lose at the Golden Globes ceremony Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 9 Dec. 2024 Notably, James Murdoch — once considered a contender to take over the family business — resigned from the board of News Corp. in 2020, citing disagreements over editorial content published by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post. Sara Fischer, Axios, 9 Dec. 2024 Soto will fit in nicely with All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor as well as budding young talent, including Mark Vientos and Francisco Alvarez, making the Mets a World Series contender now and in the future. Scott Thompson, Fox News, 9 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for contender 

Word History

Etymology

contend + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of contender was in 1547

Dictionary Entries Near contender

Cite this Entry

“Contender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contender. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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