candidate
/ˈkændɪdət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkændɪdət/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkan-də-ˌdāt ˈka-nə-, -dət/ (ame, mw)
candidate — noun
1. someone who applies for a job or asks people to vote for them in an election, ho
someone who applies for a job or asks people to vote for them in an election, hoping to be chosen for the role or position.
The committee interviewed five candidates for the manager position.
candidate for + role
Kofi was one of the strongest candidates in the mayoral election.
strong candidate (positive evaluation)
Each candidate gave a short speech to the voters before the vote.
Aiko's CV impressed the team, making her a top candidate for the role.
There were twelve candidates on the list for the teaching post.
2. someone or something viewed as having a good likelihood of being selected for a
someone or something viewed as having a good likelihood of being selected for a role or of going through a particular experience — such as a person likely to win an award or a city being considered to host a major event.
That old building is a strong candidate for demolition.
candidate for + action/outcome
Barcelona was seen as the leading candidate to host the next conference.
leading candidate + to-infinitive
Anyone who travels without insurance is an obvious candidate for serious financial loss.
Priya's new novel is a likely candidate for the national book award.
The empty warehouse looked like the perfect candidate for conversion into flats.
- possibility
more neutral and objective — 'a possibility for promotion' sounds less personal than 'a candidate for promotion'
- contender
more informal, and usually implies active competition rather than passive likelihood
- prospect
slightly more formal; often used for things rather than people ('the best prospect for development')
用法筆記
Typically used with adjectives like 'likely', 'strong', 'obvious', 'perfect', or 'prime' to indicate how probable the outcome is. Unlike sense 1, this sense can refer to things as well as people.
常見錯誤
3. a person who takes a test or examination to show their knowledge or skill in a s
a person who takes a test or examination to show their knowledge or skill in a subject.
All candidates must bring a pencil and an eraser to the exam hall.
modal: must + bring
The examiner read out the rules before the candidates opened their papers.
Candidates are not allowed to use their phones during the test.
Every candidate received a certificate after passing the final exam.
Yara was the youngest candidate in the room when she sat her music exam.
- test-taker
less formal; common in everyday conversation and test-prep materials
- examinee
very formal and impersonal; mainly used in official exam documentation
- sitter
British informal, found in phrases like 'exam sitter' but rare as a standalone word
用法筆記
In exam contexts, 'candidate' implies someone who is present and actively taking the test — not someone who has simply registered. It is the standard term used in exam instructions and official documents.