runner-up
noun
run·ner-up
ˈrə-nər-ˌəp 
ˌrə-nər-ˈəp
plural runners-up
ˈrə-nərz-ˌəp
ˌrə-nərz-ˈəp
also runner-ups
: the competitor that does not win first place in a contest
especially
: one that finishes in second place
Examples of runner-up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The project has spent just over five years on the list of the biggest soundtracks in the U.K. and, shockingly, has never reached No. 1, instead stalling in the runner-up position.
—
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
In both 1972 and 1976, Bloom was the runner-up in the state track meet.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
The ticket falls to Garcia, as Niemann (top 25 in the 2024 DP World Tour's Race to Dubai), Rahm (major winner in the last five years), DeChambeau (major winner in the last five years), and Reed (runner-up in the International Series Macau) are already qualified.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Panama is a three-time Gold Cup runner-up, losing twice in the championship game to the U.S. (2005, 2013) and once to Mexico in 2023.
—David Brandt, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
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Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
In both 1972 and 1976, Bloom was the runner-up in the state track meet.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
The ticket falls to Garcia, as Niemann (top 25 in the 2024 DP World Tour's Race to Dubai), Rahm (major winner in the last five years), DeChambeau (major winner in the last five years), and Reed (runner-up in the International Series Macau) are already qualified.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Panama is a three-time Gold Cup runner-up, losing twice in the championship game to the U.S. (2005, 2013) and once to Mexico in 2023.
—David Brandt, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
Cite this Entry
“Runner-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runner-up. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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