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

Zane Li, founder of Lii, took home the top prize at Tuesday’s announcement dinner, while designers Aisling Camps and Emily Dawn Long were named runners-up after presenting their work and completing in a series of challenges over the last year. — Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026

Mason coached Andrean for eight seasons, a tenure that included the Class 3A state title in 2013 and a runner-up finish in 2014. — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Congratulations to Zane Li, who has now won enough young-designer prizes to have something like an EGOT, and to Aisling Camps and Emily Dawn Long, who are this year’s runners-up. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 21 Oct. 2026

The Horned Frogs also captured the Big 12 regular-season title and finished runner-up in the Big 12 Tournament. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 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