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
Its prior festival record includes the Golden Spike Best Picture prize at Spain’s Seminci Valladolid, the audience award runner-up at Tribeca, and the Snow Leopard Award for best film at the Asian World Film Festival of Los Angeles.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026
The Season 29 runners-up were Team Kelly's Liv Ciara, who earned the second most votes; Team Legend's Lucas West, who was third; and Mikenley Brown, who came in fourth.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
The country star is partnering with SoFi to host and serve as a judge for the digital financial institution's Amplify Your Ambitions Contest, which will award one $200,000 grand prize and two $50,000 runner-up prizes to the top three competitors at an intimate Nashville concert on June 4.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Sitting in fifth place in the Premier League, the defending English champion has a big mountain to climb to defeat the defending European champion — and worldwide club-level runners-up.
—Pueng Vongs, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
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Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026
The Season 29 runners-up were Team Kelly's Liv Ciara, who earned the second most votes; Team Legend's Lucas West, who was third; and Mikenley Brown, who came in fourth.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
The country star is partnering with SoFi to host and serve as a judge for the digital financial institution's Amplify Your Ambitions Contest, which will award one $200,000 grand prize and two $50,000 runner-up prizes to the top three competitors at an intimate Nashville concert on June 4.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Sitting in fifth place in the Premier League, the defending English champion has a big mountain to climb to defeat the defending European champion — and worldwide club-level runners-up.
—Pueng Vongs, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 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 20 Apr. 2026.
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