front runners
Those ahead early
Front runners are the leading contenders in a competition or race—those currently ahead or most likely to win.
The term comes from horse racing but applies broadly to politics, sports, and any contest: The senator emerged as the front runner for the nomination.
Also spelled as one word: frontrunners.
- favoritesMost preferred choices
- pacesettersThose who establish standards
- pole positionFrontmost starting spot
- leadersThose with authority
- pioneersFirst to explore territory
bellwether · challengers · trailblazers · hopefuls · candidates · forerunners · precursors · winners · groundbreakers · pathfinders · ahead of the curve · innovators · prospects · trendsetters · exemplars · champions · initiators · victors
- trailblazerstrailblazers, pioneers, innovators, groundbreakers, forerunners
- powerhousestitans, giants, juggernauts, heavyweights, behemoths
front runnersunderdogs
Competitors expected to fail
long shots · dark horses · also-rans · stragglers · bottom dwellers
front runnersunderdogs
Competitors expected to fail
dark horses · outsiders · long shots · Cinderella stories · unknowns
front runnersunderdogs
Competitors expected to fail
long shots · outsiders · no-hopers · lost causes · unknown quantities
front, runner, runners, fronts, fronted, fronting, frontal, frontage, frontline