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
Lando Norris finished runner-up in the driver standings.
—
Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The second-bottom side in the WSL and the runners-up in WSL2 will have a playoff for a top-tier place.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
The winner will take home a prize of $75,000; two runners-up will receive $10,000 each.
—Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Despite its crowded outfield, San Diego should benefit from the return of Jackson Merrill, whose 24-homer season of 2024 landed him the runner-up slot in the NL’s Rookie of the Year voting.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
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Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The second-bottom side in the WSL and the runners-up in WSL2 will have a playoff for a top-tier place.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
The winner will take home a prize of $75,000; two runners-up will receive $10,000 each.
—Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Despite its crowded outfield, San Diego should benefit from the return of Jackson Merrill, whose 24-homer season of 2024 landed him the runner-up slot in the NL’s Rookie of the Year voting.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
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 9 Sep. 2025.
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