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

Monk, the runner-up for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 2023-24, did not play in back-to-back losses to the Portland Trail Blazers. —Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 23 Dec. 2025

Peter Weber proposed to Hannah Ann Sluss only to turn around and leave her for his runner-up, Madison Prewett, in a dramatic twist. —Rachel Wallace, Architectural Digest, 22 Dec. 2025

The Fighting Irish announced on Monday in a press release that the program has scheduled a home-and-home series with BYU, this season’s Big 12 Conference runner-up. —Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 22 Dec. 2025

The Runner-Up Our runner-up of the pancake syrup taste test is Millville Original Syrup from ALDI. —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 2025

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