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
Hudson will try to win a beauty pageant in her home state of Maine, and will face an uncommon opponent
Hudson will be competing in the Miss Maine USA Beauty Pageant later this month after finishing as the first runner-up in last year’s contest.
—
Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
More food news: Panera unveils insulated and bready new fashion accessory: the Croissant Clutch
Blue Bell also releasing runner-up flavor
Additionally, due to overwhelming response from Cookie Cake fans, Blue Bell is also releasing the runner-up flavor later this month.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 2 May 2025
Here are the runners-up: Five actors have been nominated for best actor in a musical for playing Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 1 May 2025
Previous seasons have yielded more — such as when finishing runners-up in 2022 to claim £102m — but this year’s return represents a huge mark-up from the £23m won in the Europa League last term.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
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Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
More food news: Panera unveils insulated and bready new fashion accessory: the Croissant Clutch
Blue Bell also releasing runner-up flavor
Additionally, due to overwhelming response from Cookie Cake fans, Blue Bell is also releasing the runner-up flavor later this month.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 2 May 2025
Here are the runners-up: Five actors have been nominated for best actor in a musical for playing Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 1 May 2025
Previous seasons have yielded more — such as when finishing runners-up in 2022 to claim £102m — but this year’s return represents a huge mark-up from the £23m won in the Europa League last term.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 1 May 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 6 May. 2025.
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