in the running

1. 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]

2. 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

Waller, who has dissented at two meetings this year and is in the running to follow Powell, has argued that some dissent is healthy, but the Fed avoids razor-thin votes because a broad consensus delivers more clear and consistent policymaking, he said.

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In an effort to gain an edge over Tennessee, which was still in the running with Toyota, Collins worked on the broad strokes of the deal and the tiniest details—from the constitutionality of a nine-figure incentives package to picking up the Toyota delegation at the airport herself and hosting them for a dinner at the governor’s mansion.

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Names who have been rumoured as potential contenders in the running include Charlotte Moore, the BBC's recently-departed chief content officer who was in charge of all programming except news, overseeing hits including The Traitors, The Wheel and Happy Valley.

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"I predict it will be in the running for memorable moment at next year's Bafta TV awards," she said.

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New films from Chloé Zhao, Kathryn Bigelow and Mona Fastvold are among those in the running in the forthcoming Oscars race, but the best director category is once again expected to be male in majority.

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Related Words

• acceptable 
• likely 
• qualified 
• suitable