front runner
16
3.5
- noun
:
líder (competición)
- Had Federer's training and scheduling decisions after winning Wimbledon been better, he could have been the front runner for year-end No. 1 at this point.
Competing to draw the inside straight and take over as front runner past Donald Trump.
- Competing to draw the inside straight and take over as front runner past Donald Trump.
Examples
-
Already it's being reported that Alomar, who spoke to the Jays last year about their opening, is the front runner for the position.
Blog text (22) -
Newt has beaten Mitt and is now the front runner.
Blog text (15) -
In fact, it could make you the front runner, if you get it.
-
Where else can a black man be the front runner for a position as president?
Blog text (2) -
Currently, it appears as though Rudy is the front runner.
Blog text (26) -
It is surprising for a front-runner in a modern U.S. election to be saying such secular things.
Academic text (2016) -
Some faculty members interviewed also mentioned Slaughter as a front-runner for the position, though fewer than the number who mentioned Eisgruber.
Blog text (22) -
The win improves the Tigers' record to 5-0 and sets up a week 10 matchup with co-district front runner, Livingston Academy, for what will probably be the district championship.
Blog text (26) -
According to the latest polls, there are two front runners in the race now.
-
In the upcoming election, the current front runner has a significant lead over other candidates.
Synonyms
49
4.1
A person most likely to win a contest or election
3
5.0
A person leading a movement or attack
How Likely
19
8.2
- US
165
1.9
16
3.5
192
3.6
152
3.5
8
4.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'the person or thing leading a race or contest' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'front' (the foremost position) with 'runner' (someone who runs), i.e. a runner at the front. This compositional pattern is common and cross-linguistically accessible, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Front runner comes from the image of the runner at the front of a race, the person who is ahead of the others. So it means someone who is 'leading' in a contest or competition.