also-ran
noun
al·so-ran
ˈȯl(t)-(ˌ)sō-ˌran 
ˈȯ-
1
: a horse or dog that finishes out of the money in a race
2
: a contestant that does not win
3
: one that is of little importance especially competitively
was just an also-ran in the scramble for … privileges—
C. A. Buss
C. A. BussExamples of also-ran in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For almost a quarter century, Randy Bennett has turned this tiny Catholic college from an also-ran to a perennial NCAA Tournament team.
—Brett Koremenos, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Maybe producers didn't want to repeat the classic sketches used in 2015, leaving the 50th stuck with the also-rans and ones that are less than a year old.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Speaking of Gordon, the longtime Dunk Contest also-ran was shouted out online, with Rob Lopez of FanDuel opining that Gordon is still the superior Dunk Contest competitor in Magic history.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025
Knocking on the door along with Ottawa are perennial Atlantic Division also-rans Montreal and Detroit.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for also-ran
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Brett Koremenos, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Maybe producers didn't want to repeat the classic sketches used in 2015, leaving the 50th stuck with the also-rans and ones that are less than a year old.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Speaking of Gordon, the longtime Dunk Contest also-ran was shouted out online, with Rob Lopez of FanDuel opining that Gordon is still the superior Dunk Contest competitor in Magic history.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025
Knocking on the door along with Ottawa are perennial Atlantic Division also-rans Montreal and Detroit.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for also-ran
Cite this Entry
“Also-ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/also-ran. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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