hopefuls
Those seeking selection
Hopefuls are people who aspire to achieve something—typically a position, title, or opportunity: Olympic hopefuls trained for years, presidential hopefuls debated last night.
The term implies ambition without guaranteed success, often used for contestants, candidates, or auditioners whose fate remains uncertain.
Those seeking selection
- contendersThose seeking to win
- nomineesThose proposed for selection
- aspirantsThose seeking advancement
- frontrunnersThose leading a competition
campaigners · politicians · primary · election · ticket · bid · running · endorsement
Those seeking acceptance
- intervieweesPeople being formally questioned
- graduatesDegree recipients
- internsWorkers gaining supervised experience
- traineesPeople being instructed
entry-level · resume · credentials · ambitious · climbing · advancement · opportunity · networking
Those testing for roles
- contestantsCompetition participants
- actorsThose playing roles
- performersThose who entertain audiences
- starletsYoung aspiring actresses
talent · casting · callbacks · screen test · breakthrough · discovery · agents · headshots
candidates
Those seeking selection
- contendersThose seeking to win
- nomineesThose proposed for selection
- aspirantsThose seeking advancement
frontrunners · campaigners · politicians · primary · election · ticket · bid · running · endorsement · polls
applicants
Those seeking acceptance
- intervieweesPeople being formally questioned
- graduatesDegree recipients
- internsWorkers gaining supervised experience
trainees · entry-level · resume · credentials · ambitious · climbing · advancement · opportunity · networking · mentorship
auditioners
Those testing for roles
- contestantsCompetition participants
- actorsThose playing roles
- performersThose who entertain audiences
starlets · talent · casting · callbacks · screen test · breakthrough · discovery · agents · headshots · demo
prospects
Expected future outcomes
tryouts · combine · scouting · roster · training camp · unsigned · amateur · collegiate · Olympic · trials
- candidatescandidate, candidates, nominee, nominees, contender
- newcomersnewcomers, newcomer, new arrivals, new arrival, newbie
- dreamersdreamer, dreamers, daydreamer, daydreamers, visionary
hopefulsselectees
Persons officially chosen
chosen ones · winners · rejects · appointees · losers
hopefulsdefeatists
Those anticipating inevitable failure
no-hopers · pessimists · despairing · lost causes · write-offs
- stay hopefulKeep expecting good outcomes