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

After the pair aggressively jousted for runner-up during the final laps, Lapcevich drove into Heim’s right side during the cool-down lap. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

The musical grossed a whopping $2,608,571, easily besting runner-up The Lion King‘s $1,700,873. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026

Lam was the runner-up for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2005 and won CFDA’s Emerging Designer Award the same year. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

Weug had a rough landing this year after finishing F1 Academy runner-up in 2025. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 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