Frontrunner (noun)

1. A person or thing that is in the lead or ahead of the others in a race or competition.
2. A leading candidate or contender for a particular position or honor.

Origin:

From the idea of running in a race or competition and being in the lead or front position.

Examples:

1. The frontrunner for the presidential nomination was a well-known senator with years of experience in politics.
2. The frontrunner in the race crossed the finish line first, setting a new world record.
3. The frontrunner in the polls was expected to win the election by a wide margin.
4. The frontrunner for the Nobel Prize in Literature was a renowned poet with a body of work that spanned decades.
5. The frontrunner in the Oscar race was a critically acclaimed film that was also a box office hit.