Emerging Leaders

noun a candidate or competitor about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds

adjective relating to a little-known competitor who unexpectedly wins or succeeds

• The dark horse in the election surprised everyone with a landslide victory.
• I never expected him to win, he was a real dark horse in the competition.
• That team is definitely the dark horse in the tournament, they could go all the way.
• She always seemed like a dark horse in the family, but she ended up being the most successful.

noun a celestial body that appears to move across the sky

• The young violinist is considered a rising star in the classical music world.
• Have you heard about the new actress in town? She's a real rising star!
• That rapper is definitely a rising star in the music industry.
• The new CEO is seen as a rising star in the business world, with great potential for success.