front-runner

/ˌfrʌnt ˈrʌnə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌfrʌnt ˈrʌnər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfrənt-ˌrə-nər/ (ame, mw)

front-runner — noun

1. a person, team, company, or group that holds the leading position in a contest,

1.名詞B2
釋義

a person, team, company, or group that holds the leading position in a contest, election, or competition and is expected by most people to win it.

例句

Mei-Lin has been the clear front-runner in the mayoral race since she announced her plans.

collocation: clear front-runner

After winning six straight races, a young swimmer from Nairobi is now the front-runner for the gold medal.

collocation: front-runner for [prize]

同義詞
  • leader

    broader — a leader can be ahead without being expected to win; e.g. 'the team leader' has no competitive sense.

  • favorite

    emphasises public support and popular opinion; more common in sports betting and informal contexts.

  • top contender

    suggests the person is still in active competition and has serious rivals, while 'front-runner' implies a clear lead.

反義詞
  • underdog

    the person or team expected to lose, opposite of the front-runner in any competition.

文法句型

the + front-runner

front-runner + in/for + [competition/race]

用法筆記

Nearly always used with the definite article 'the'. Commonly appears in news reporting about elections, sports tournaments, and business competitions.

常見錯誤

❌He is a front-runner for president.
✅He is the front-runner in the presidential race.
💡'front-runner' almost always takes 'the', and the competition is introduced by 'in' or 'for', not the position title.