contender
/kənˈtendər/
a rival competitor
She was the top contender in the race.
She was the leading competitor in the race.
formal
A person or thing competing with others for a prize, position, or recognition.
He entered the tournament as a strong contender.
He joined the tournament as a serious competitor.
The new smartphone is a serious contender in the market.
The new phone competes strongly with other models.
Often paired with adjectives like 'top', 'strong', or 'serious' to indicate the level of competition.
Collocations
top contenderthe leading competitor in a competitionstrong contendera serious competitor with a good chance of winningserious contendera competitor considered likely to succeed
English Dictionary