in the running
Idioms-
Entered as a competitor in a contest. For example, Is Mary in the running for this election? The antonym, out of the running , means “not entered as a competitor,” as in Ian is out of the running for the job now that he's living in another state . [Mid-1800s]
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Having a chance to win, as in Mary's still in the running for the promotion . Again, out of the running means the opposite, as in He's too old—he's out of the running . [Mid-1800s] Both usages allude to the entry and chances of a horse in a race.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He’s a game-breaker in the passing attack and a road-clearer in the running game with a skill-set few can match.
In addition, ports in the Celtic Sea are not yet prepared to handle the large-scale infrastructure required for offshore wind deployment with three Welsh ports, in particular Port Talbot, in the running for contracts to develop these projects.
From BBC
Torgashev also put himself in the running for an Olympic berth, jumping from fifth after the short program to finish second on 267.92.
From Barron's
The prizes are therefore closely watched as indicators of who might be in the running for an Academy Award.
From Barron's
The cast are not the only people able to take part in the show, as up until 15 minutes before transmission, viewers are able to get involved in the running order of the special by voting for one of four pre-shot scenes via social media.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
