contender
gb/kəntˈɛndɚ/ us/kəntˈɛndɚ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
role
1
person or team that competes
A person or team that competes.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is a contender in [competition/field]
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse contender (a competitor) with contend (the verb meaning compete or argue).
Synonyms
competitor (More general word for anyone who competes.)
|
challenger (Often emphasizes challenging an existing leader or champion.)
Antonyms
non-contender (Someone not considered competitive or likely to win.)
Collocations
a contender in the race
|a contender in the tournament
|a new contender
|a contender emerges
|contenders line up
|a field of contenders
|contenders compete
|face a contender
|a strong contender
|a serious contender
Themes
sports
|competition
|daily_life
Examples
- Twenty contenders entered the baking competition this year.
- The event attracted contenders from more than a dozen countries.
- She beat every contender in her age group.
Learner examples
- He is a contender in the race.
- Many contenders tried to win.
Noun
B2
role
2
candidate likely to win
Someone who has a good chance to win or be chosen.
Usage pattern:
a contender for [title/prize/position]
Common mistake:
Contender suggests a real possibility of winning; an ordinary candidate may not be competitive.
Synonyms
front-runner (Stronger: suggests currently in the lead.)
|
candidate (More neutral: does not necessarily imply a strong chance.)
Antonyms
outsider (Someone not expected to win or succeed.)
Collocations
a contender for the prize
|a contender for the job
|a contender for the award
|a leading contender
|a top contender
|a serious contender
|a strong contender
|a front-runner and contender
|emerge as a contender
|remain a contender
Themes
competition
|business
|media
Examples
- Her film is a contender for best documentary.
- After two strong quarters, the company became a contender for the market lead.
- He’s no longer seen as a contender for the role.
Learner examples
- She is a contender for the award.
Noun
B2
role
3
athlete likely to challenge for title
A team or player that could win the championship.
Usage pattern:
a contender for the title / a contender for [championship]
Common mistake:
In sports, contender often implies a top team; it’s stronger than just “participant.”
Synonyms
challenger (Often used for someone who may face the champion directly.)
Antonyms
also-ran (Someone who competes but is not competitive.)
Collocations
a title contender
|a championship contender
|playoff contenders
|a contender for the crown
|legitimate contenders
|a contender this season
|contender status
|become a contender
|remain a contender
|a contender in the division
Themes
sports
|competition
Examples
- With that trade, they look like a real title contender.
- The coach believes the team can develop into contenders within two years.
- Injuries knocked them out of contender status.
Learner examples
- The team is a contender this year.
Noun
B2
role
4
person competing for political office
A person trying to win an election.
Usage pattern:
a contender for [office/nomination]
Common mistake:
Contender is common in political news writing; in everyday speech, people often say candidate.
Synonyms
candidate (More common and neutral for someone running for office.)
Antonyms
incumbent (The person currently holding the office (not a direct opposite, but contrasts with someone trying to win it).)
Collocations
a presidential contender
|a contender for the nomination
|a contender for governor
|leading contenders
|rival contenders
|a crowded field of contenders
|party contenders
|a late contender
|a surprise contender
|drop out as a contender
Themes
politics
|news
Examples
- Several contenders entered the race after the senator announced her retirement.
- The debate helped one contender stand out from the rest.
- Polls show two clear contenders for the nomination.
Learner examples
- She is a contender for mayor.
Noun
business
C1
role
5
business rival competing strongly
A business or product that competes well in the market.
Usage pattern:
[company/product] is a contender in [market/category]
Common mistake:
With companies/products, contender often implies they could become a leader, not just that they exist in the market.
Synonyms
rival (Broader: can be any competitor, not necessarily likely to win.)
|
challenger (Often suggests taking on an established market leader.)
Antonyms
also-ran (A weak competitor with little chance of success.)
Collocations
a major contender
|a contender in the market
|a contender in the sector
|a contender in the premium category
|a serious contender
|a new contender
|a rising contender
|a leading contender
|emerge as a contender
|position itself as a contender
Themes
business
|technology
Examples
- The new model is a contender in the mid-range smartphone market.
- After the redesign, the app became a serious contender against larger platforms.
- Analysts don’t see the startup as a contender yet.
Learner examples
- This brand is a contender in the market.
Noun
formal
C1
role
6
person who argues for a view
Someone who says strongly that something is true.
Usage pattern:
a contender that [clause]
Common mistake:
This sense is much less common than the competition sense; many speakers would prefer 'argues' or 'claims' instead.
Synonyms
advocate (Emphasizes publicly supporting an idea.)
|
proponent (Formal; emphasizes supporting a proposal or theory.)
Antonyms
opponent (Someone who argues against a view.)
Collocations
a contender that
|a contender for the view
|a contender of the theory
|the main contenders
|contenders in the debate
Themes
academics
|law
|communication
Examples
- One contender argues that the policy will reduce costs in the long run.
- Several contenders claim the study’s conclusions are misleading.
- She is a leading contender for the view that the text is authentic.
Grammar
Dictionary form
contender
IPA
GB/kəntˈɛndɚ/
US/kəntˈɛndɚ/
Syllables & stress
con - tender (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tender)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: contender
- Plural: contenders
Word family
Forms
contenders
noun
Core family
contend
verb C1
contention
noun C1
Related words
contest
noun A2
contestant
noun B1
Advanced or less common
contentious
adjective C1
Expressions
dark-horse contender
1/dˈɑɹk hˈɔɹs kəntˈɛndɚ/
fixed phrase
unexpected competitor who may win
A surprising person or team who might win.
Examples
- She entered as a dark-horse contender and ended up winning the tournament.
- The new candidate is a dark-horse contender in the primary.
- A small studio became a dark-horse contender for best picture.
leading contender
1/lˈidɪŋ kəntˈɛndɚ/
fixed phrase
one of the most likely winners
A person or team with a very good chance to win.
Examples
- She’s a leading contender for the position.
- Two leading contenders pulled ahead after the final debate.
- The club is widely viewed as a leading contender for the title.
serious contender
1/sˈɪɹiəs kəntˈɛndɚ/
fixed phrase
genuine rival with real chances
Someone who really could win.
Examples
- With her experience, she’s a serious contender for the leadership role.
- The update makes the app a serious contender in its category.
- They were never a serious contender to win the league.
title contender
1/tˈaɪtəl kəntˈɛndɚ/
fixed phrase
team or athlete aiming for title
A team or player who could win the championship.
Examples
- They’re not a title contender without a stronger defense.
- Two title contenders meet in the semifinal tonight.
- The coach says the squad can become a title contender next season.
top contender
1/tˈɑp kəntˈɛndɚ/
fixed phrase
one of the best candidates
One of the best people or teams who could win.
Examples
- She’s a top contender for the award this year.
- The injury could sideline a top contender before the finals.
- Analysts named three top contenders for the contract.