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

For fiction, the winner is The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman; the runner-up is Charlotte McConaghy’s Wild Dark Shore. — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026

Similar to the runner-ups, the grand winner will also receive a $15,000 check to help with taxes. — Ryley Amond, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

Zaikman took home the Mirrorball after her final performance with season 29 celebrity runner-up Nev Schulman. — ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

The two finished as Season 18 runners-up to Olympic ice dance champion Meryl Davis and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and Purdy became the first double amputee contestant to ever appear on the show. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for runner-up

• buttercup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup

Kids Definition

runner-up

noun

run·​ner-up

ˈrən-ə-ˌrəp

plural runners-up

: the competitor in a contest who finishes next to the winner