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

Williams is the author of four previous novels–including The Quick and the Dead, a runner-up for the Pulitzer Prize–and four collections of stories, as well as Ill Nature, a book of essays that was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. —Literary Hub, 18 Nov. 2025

Boston has the Cy Young runner-up in Garrett Crochet at the top of its rotation, with Brayan Bello behind him. —Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Nov. 2025

The winner of the runner-up Karl Lagerfeld Prize and Savoir-Faire Prize will each walk away with 200,000 euros and will also benefit from a year of professional advice. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 17 Nov. 2025

During the finale, Cindy, the season's runner-up, chose to self-eliminate before the fantasy suites episode. —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025

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