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 two horses that chased Balnikhov to the wire in that race — runner-up Flashiest (Armando Ayuso) and Reiquist (Hector Berrios) — are also entered. —Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025

In the video, Bosch is seated next to first runner-up Singh. —Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025

The American team will also play a pair of exhibitions against the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies, and the club hopes to capture its second WBC title following its victory in 2017 and its runner-up finish to Japan last time out in 2023. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Nov. 2025

The Runner-Up Our runner-up is Good & Gather Chicken Broth from Target. —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2025

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