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 City Section Open Division baseball champion, Birmingham, and runner-up, El Camino Real, both passed on the regional playoffs.
—
Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Arroyo, the runner-up in the Mission Valley League, finished seventh in the final Division 6 rankings.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Mazzulla received 62 of the 100 first-place votes, far outpacing runner-up Bickerstaff (29).
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 26 May 2026
However, the Portuguese prima donna is only runner-up this year to the ultimate club man, Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
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Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Arroyo, the runner-up in the Mission Valley League, finished seventh in the final Division 6 rankings.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Mazzulla received 62 of the 100 first-place votes, far outpacing runner-up Bickerstaff (29).
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 26 May 2026
However, the Portuguese prima donna is only runner-up this year to the ultimate club man, Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026
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 31 May. 2026.
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