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

Dolly Parton Continues Chasing First Bestseller As Parton settles into the runner-up space, she is kept from her first leader on the Digital Song Sales chart for the second time in her career. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

First said on the first season of Survivor by runner-up Kelly Wiglesworth, the phrase has ping-ponged from America’s Next Top Model to Flavor of Love. —Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026

Pitt will then hit the road for games against Boston College and Miami (FL), who were this season's runner-up in the College Football Playoff National Championship game. —Mike Darnay, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026

DeSoto’s shrinking enrollment puts it below 5A Division I regional finalist Highland Park (1,990) and only five students ahead of 5A Division I state runner-up Frisco Lone Star (1,927). —Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026

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