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
Earlier Wednesday, Cepeda conceded Colombia's presidential election to de la Espriella and accepted a Senate seat reserved for the runner-up in the presidential election.
—
CBS News,
24 June 2026
Morocco, meanwhile, will finish runner-up should Brazil beat Scotland.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
The winner of Group F will meet the Group C runner-up in the knockout stage.
—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
Another consideration is that the winners of that group face the runners-up of Group C — Brazil or Morocco — with the team in second place facing its winners.
—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
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CBS News,
24 June 2026
Morocco, meanwhile, will finish runner-up should Brazil beat Scotland.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
The winner of Group F will meet the Group C runner-up in the knockout stage.
—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2026
Another consideration is that the winners of that group face the runners-up of Group C — Brazil or Morocco — with the team in second place facing its winners.
—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
Cite this Entry
“Runner-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runner-up. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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