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
If Seattle finally reaches the World Series this season, maybe there’s hope for such perennial also-rans as the Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and Los Angeles Angels, who lost a club-record 99 times last summer under first-year manager Ron Washington.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
That's because the choicest ones get snatched up early, leaving only the straggly also-rans.
—Felix Salmon, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024
South Carolina was 3-3 to start the season and looked to be headed for an also-ran season in the SEC despite a pair of close losses.
—Dan Santaromita, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Instead of an also-ran, Vice President Walter Mondale was a real partner to Carter with a West Wing office, unprecedented access to meetings and private lunches with the president.
—Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 30 Dec. 2024
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Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
That's because the choicest ones get snatched up early, leaving only the straggly also-rans.
—Felix Salmon, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024
South Carolina was 3-3 to start the season and looked to be headed for an also-ran season in the SEC despite a pair of close losses.
—Dan Santaromita, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Instead of an also-ran, Vice President Walter Mondale was a real partner to Carter with a West Wing office, unprecedented access to meetings and private lunches with the president.
—Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for also-ran
Dictionary Entries Near also-ran
Cite this Entry
“Also-ran.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/also-ran. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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