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
Consistent in graded company, McAfee comes off a runner-up effort in the West Virginia Derby (G3).
—
Jared Welch, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Born in Moscow, Alexandrova represented her hometown in the 2017 Miss Russia competition and won first runner-up.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025
Between Jeanty, tight end Brock Bowers, last year's runner-up for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, the Raiders may finally have a path out of the wilderness they have been stuck in for so long.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
From the Gardner Heidrick pro-am round through the final putts between winner Scottie Scheffler and runner-up Robert MacIntyre on championship Sunday, fans packed the fairways and grandstands, helping create contagious levels of energy.
—Josh Tolentino, Baltimore Sun, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
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Jared Welch, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Born in Moscow, Alexandrova represented her hometown in the 2017 Miss Russia competition and won first runner-up.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025
Between Jeanty, tight end Brock Bowers, last year's runner-up for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, the Raiders may finally have a path out of the wilderness they have been stuck in for so long.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
From the Gardner Heidrick pro-am round through the final putts between winner Scottie Scheffler and runner-up Robert MacIntyre on championship Sunday, fans packed the fairways and grandstands, helping create contagious levels of energy.
—Josh Tolentino, Baltimore Sun, 17 Aug. 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 23 Aug. 2025.
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