Word
contender
Phoneticscon·tender
US/kənˈtɛndɝ/
UK/kəntˈɛndɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. someone who has a good chance of winning a race, a game, or an election.
n. a competitor with a realistic prospect of success in a contest or for a position of authority.
Examples
“She is a top contender for the gold medal.”
“After three consecutive wins, the local team is now a serious contender for the national championship.”
“While several candidates applied for the executive role, only two emerged as viable contenders capable of navigating the company through its current financial restructuring.”
Examples
simple
“She is a top contender for the gold medal.”
contextual
“After three consecutive wins, the local team is now a serious contender for the national championship.”
complex
“While several candidates applied for the executive role, only two emerged as viable contenders capable of navigating the company through its current financial restructuring.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “contender” in context.
Verb
01. eliminate a contender
“A sudden injury eliminated the top contender from the tournament.”
verb + noun
02. establish oneself as a contender
“The tech startup established itself as a contender in the global market within just two years.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Adjective
03. leading contender
“She is currently the leading contender for the position of Chief Executive.”
adj + noun
04. serious contender
“After three consecutive wins, the young athlete has emerged as a serious contender for the gold medal.”
adj + noun
05. unlikely contender
“The independent film became an unlikely contender during the awards season.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. contender for the title
“The reigning champion faces a formidable contender for the title this Sunday.”
noun + prep + noun
Preposition
07. as a contender
“He was widely dismissed as a contender before the first round of voting.”
prep + noun
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'for' to indicate the prize or position being sought.
Teaching tip
While any participant is a competitor, a 'contender' is specifically someone perceived as having the strength to actually win.
Real-World Examples
“That drama led to a congested 10-athlete final - but, despite Briton Jemma Reekie's best efforts, there only ever appeared three contenders for gold.” “Last month Real Madrid released a statement saying they would not be signing Fernandez - which left City as the only real contenders.” Etymology
From contend + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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- Formal
QR code
englishreference.com/q/contender