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 grand prize winner will be awarded $15,000, and one runner-up will be awarded $10,000.
—
Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025
For starters, there was the emotional (and record-setting) BlueCross Bowl where Page High secured its first state title after finishing as runner-up for four years straight.
—Nashville Tennessean, 16 Dec. 2025
Friday, July 3, 2026 The winner of Group J (Argentina, Algeria, Austria, or Jordan) plays the Group H runner-up (Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, or Uruguay).
—James Varsallone, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
The winner will receive $20,000, while the runner-up will receive $10,000.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
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Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025
For starters, there was the emotional (and record-setting) BlueCross Bowl where Page High secured its first state title after finishing as runner-up for four years straight.
—Nashville Tennessean, 16 Dec. 2025
Friday, July 3, 2026 The winner of Group J (Argentina, Algeria, Austria, or Jordan) plays the Group H runner-up (Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, or Uruguay).
—James Varsallone, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
The winner will receive $20,000, while the runner-up will receive $10,000.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 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 18 Dec. 2025.
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