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

Lionel Messi has not played in Inter Miami's first two matches following the World Cup after Argentina's runner-up finish. — ABC News, 25 July 2026

Leah Kateb and Miguel Harichi finished as runners-up on season 6, but their relationship has continued to thrive off-screen. — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026

In the Shooting Stars competition, Seattle had 24 points to finish as runner-up after missing all of the team’s four-point shots. — Doug Feinberg, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026

Among the 50 players who were a Heisman winner or runner-up from 2000 through 2024, only nine went on to have fewer than 10 starts in the NFL. — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 25 July 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