ˌfront-ˈrunner noun [countableC] COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEATthe person or thing that is most likely to succeed in a competition 〔竞争中的〕领先者，最有可能获胜者 the front-runner in June’s presidential election 6月总统大选的领跑者
front-runner• Recall the dull front-runner, unloved but unavoidable, who plods ahead to victory in his place.• He had predicted he would win the Louisiana caucuses and be a strong runner-up to Dole, the front-runner, in Iowa.