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

His first ever international goal came at the start of Euro 2004, when host Portugal was runner-up to Greece. — ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026

Horizon’s boys volleyball team was a state runner-up last spring. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026

In girls soccer, Northwest Catholic (Class M) and Old Saybrook (Class S) were runners-up and Granby was the Class S runner-up in field hockey. — Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026

Surprisingly, the runner-up proposal to Magonigle’s winning design was one of the most modest. — Elijah Winkler, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 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