fancied
adj. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈfænsid// UK //fˈænsɪd// fan·cied
adj. describes someone or something that people expect to win a competition or be successful.
adj. regarded with favour or widely expected to achieve success in a specific contest or endeavour. Often used in the context of competitive sports or betting.
The fancied team lost the game in the final minute.
Despite being the most fancied runner in the race, he finished in third place after a poor start.
The heavily fancied candidate struggled to maintain her lead as the debate shifted toward economic policies where her opponents held more popular positions.
From fancy (“to have a fancy for, like; to imagine, suppose”) + -ed.
Usage
Typically used attributively before the noun it modifies; often paired with intensifiers like 'highly' or 'heavily'.