What is another word for were candidate?
Pronunciation: [wɜː kˈandɪdˌe͡ɪt] (IPA) 
When it comes to describing someone who was a potential choice for a position, there are many synonyms for the phrase "were candidate". The most common are "were contenders", "were aspirants", "were applicants", "were nominees", and "were runners-up". All of these phrases indicate that someone was being considered for a position, but may not have ultimately been chosen. Other possible alternatives include "were finalists", "were shortlisted", and "were hopefuls". Depending on the context and the specific situation, different synonyms may be more appropriate to use. However, all of these options convey the idea of someone being in the running for a particular role or job.
