Crossword Genius

One has aspirations before the contract bid (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pretender

'one has aspirations' is the definition.
(person claiming or aspiring to a title)

'before the contract bid' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'pre'.
'the contract bid' becomes 'tender' (the process of bidding for a contract).
'pre'+'tender'='PRETENDER'

(Other definitions for pretender that I've seen before include "One acting" , "fake" , "One claiming a title" , "Claimant, like Bonnie Prince Charlie" , "Claimant to a throne, usually without just title" .)

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