contender
gb/kəntˈɛndɚ/ us/kəntˈɛndɚ/
B2
Engels
Betekenissen
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Zelfstandig naamwoord
B2
role
1
person or team that competes
A person or team that competes.
Gebruikspatroon:
[someone/something] is a contender in [competition/field]
Veelgemaakte fout:
Don’t confuse contender (a competitor) with contend (the verb meaning compete or argue).
Synoniemen
competitor (More general word for anyone who competes.)
|
challenger (Often emphasizes challenging an existing leader or champion.)
Antoniemen
non-contender (Someone not considered competitive or likely to win.)
Woordcombinaties
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
Thema's
sports
|competition
|daily_life
Voorbeelden
- 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.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- He is a contender in the race.
- Many contenders tried to win.
Zelfstandig naamwoord
B2
role
2
candidate likely to win
Someone who has a good chance to win or be chosen.
Gebruikspatroon:
a contender for [title/prize/position]
Veelgemaakte fout:
Contender suggests a real possibility of winning; an ordinary candidate may not be competitive.
Synoniemen
front-runner (Stronger: suggests currently in the lead.)
|
candidate (More neutral: does not necessarily imply a strong chance.)
Antoniemen
outsider (Someone not expected to win or succeed.)
Woordcombinaties
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
Thema's
competition
|business
|media
Voorbeelden
- 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.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- She is a contender for the award.
Zelfstandig naamwoord
B2
role
3
athlete likely to challenge for title
A team or player that could win the championship.
Gebruikspatroon:
a contender for the title / a contender for [championship]
Veelgemaakte fout:
In sports, contender often implies a top team; it’s stronger than just “participant.”
Synoniemen
challenger (Often used for someone who may face the champion directly.)
Antoniemen
also-ran (Someone who competes but is not competitive.)
Woordcombinaties
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
Thema's
sports
|competition
Voorbeelden
- 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.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- The team is a contender this year.
Zelfstandig naamwoord
B2
role
4
person competing for political office
A person trying to win an election.
Gebruikspatroon:
a contender for [office/nomination]
Veelgemaakte fout:
Contender is common in political news writing; in everyday speech, people often say candidate.
Synoniemen
candidate (More common and neutral for someone running for office.)
Antoniemen
incumbent (The person currently holding the office (not a direct opposite, but contrasts with someone trying to win it).)
Woordcombinaties
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
Thema's
politics
|news
Voorbeelden
- 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.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- She is a contender for mayor.
Zelfstandig naamwoord
business
C1
role
5
business rival competing strongly
A business or product that competes well in the market.
Gebruikspatroon:
[company/product] is a contender in [market/category]
Veelgemaakte fout:
With companies/products, contender often implies they could become a leader, not just that they exist in the market.
Synoniemen
rival (Broader: can be any competitor, not necessarily likely to win.)
|
challenger (Often suggests taking on an established market leader.)
Antoniemen
also-ran (A weak competitor with little chance of success.)
Woordcombinaties
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
Thema's
business
|technology
Voorbeelden
- 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.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
- This brand is a contender in the market.
Zelfstandig naamwoord
formal
C1
role
6
person who argues for a view
Someone who says strongly that something is true.
Gebruikspatroon:
a contender that [clause]
Veelgemaakte fout:
This sense is much less common than the competition sense; many speakers would prefer 'argues' or 'claims' instead.
Synoniemen
advocate (Emphasizes publicly supporting an idea.)
|
proponent (Formal; emphasizes supporting a proposal or theory.)
Antoniemen
opponent (Someone who argues against a view.)
Woordcombinaties
a contender that
|a contender for the view
|a contender of the theory
|the main contenders
|contenders in the debate
Thema's
academics
|law
|communication
Voorbeelden
- 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.
Grammatica
Lemmavorm
contender
IPA
GB/kəntˈɛndɚ/
US/kəntˈɛndɚ/
Lettergrepen en klemtoon
con - tender (2 lettergrepen)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tender)
Woordvormen
Noun
- Base: contender
- Plural: contenders
Woordfamilie
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
Uitdrukkingen
dark-horse contender
1/dˈɑɹk hˈɔɹs kəntˈɛndɚ/
fixed phrase
unexpected competitor who may win
A surprising person or team who might win.
Voorbeelden
- 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.
Voorbeelden
- 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.
Voorbeelden
- 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.
Voorbeelden
- 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.
Voorbeelden
- 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.