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 Runner-Up Trader Joe's Classic Potato Chips Ranked closely behind Lay's in our taste test with just one fewer first place vote, the runner-up in this very close race was Trader Joe's.
—
Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
The World Series winner receives 36% of the pool, while the runner-up gets 24%.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Ivy Harrington from New Jersey and Chantéa McIntyre from Oregon were named first and second runners-up.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Miss New Jersey, Ivy Harrington, was named the first runner-up.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
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Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
The World Series winner receives 36% of the pool, while the runner-up gets 24%.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Ivy Harrington from New Jersey and Chantéa McIntyre from Oregon were named first and second runners-up.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Miss New Jersey, Ivy Harrington, was named the first runner-up.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 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 30 Oct. 2025.
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