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
Including the Super Bowl runner-up Chiefs, a total of 10 teams have started this season 0-2.
—
Mark Lasota, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Last season, former Bachelor star Joey Graziadei took the win with his partner Jenna Johnson, while women's rugby star Ilona Maher and partner Alan Bersten were the runners-up.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Magna took home a runner-up award here for using hemp nylon in place of traditional nylon in car exteriors.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 16 Sep. 2025
The Athletic reported Monday that the Revolution have already been in touch with former Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin, who led the team to a Supporters’ Shield title in 2020 and a runner-up finish in the MLS Cup title game in 2022.
—Julian Cardillo, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
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Mark Lasota, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Last season, former Bachelor star Joey Graziadei took the win with his partner Jenna Johnson, while women's rugby star Ilona Maher and partner Alan Bersten were the runners-up.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Magna took home a runner-up award here for using hemp nylon in place of traditional nylon in car exteriors.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 16 Sep. 2025
The Athletic reported Monday that the Revolution have already been in touch with former Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin, who led the team to a Supporters’ Shield title in 2020 and a runner-up finish in the MLS Cup title game in 2022.
—Julian Cardillo, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 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 17 Sep. 2025.
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