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Definition of candidate noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    candidate

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//ˈkændəˌdeɪt//
     
    , NAmE//ˈkændədət//
     
     
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  1. 1candidate (for something) a person who is trying to be elected or is applying for a job one of the leading candidates for the presidency a presidential candidate He was a candidate in the school board elections. There were a large number of candidates for the job. The party intends to field a candidate in the next general election. Topic CollocationsVoting in Electionsrunning for election
    • conduct/hold an election/a referendum
    • run for office/election/governor/mayor/president/the White House
    • enter/run in/withdraw from the primary/Senate/gubernatorial race
    • represent the Democrats/the Republican Party
    • hold/contest a local/mid-term/primary/national election
    • launch/run a presidential (election) campaign
    • support/back a candidate
    • sway/convince/persuade voters/the electorate
    • appeal to/attract/woo/target/pander to swing voters
    • fix/rig/steal an election/the vote
    voting
    • go to/be turned away from a polling place/station
    • cast a/your vote/ballot (for somebody)
    • vote for the Republican candidate/the Democratic ticket
    • mark/spoil your ballot paper
    • count the early/absentee ballots
    • go to/be defeated at the ballot box
    • get/win/receive/lose votes
    • get/win (60% of) the popular/black/Hispanic/Latino vote
    • win power/the election/the primary/a senate seat/a majority
    • lose an election/the vote/your majority/your seat
    • win/come to power in a landslide (victory) (= with many more votes than any other party)
    • elect/reelect somebody (as) mayor/president/congressman/congresswoman/a Senator/a Representative
    taking power
    • be sworn into office/in as president
    • take/administer the oath of office
    • give/deliver the inaugural address
    • take/enter/hold/leave office
    • appoint somebody (as) ambassador/governor/minister/a federal judge/a Supreme Court justice
    • form a government/a cabinet
    • serve two terms as president/in office
    • ⇨ more collocations at economy, politics
  2. 2candidate (for something) a person or group that is considered suitable for something or that is likely to get something or to be something a PhD. candidate (= someone doing a PhD. degree) Our manager is a prime candidate for promotion this year. Your father is an obvious candidate for a heart attack.
See candidate in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary