How to Use runner-up in a Sentence

runner-up

noun

• Licorice is the runner-up in that debate.
  — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
• France was runner-up for a seventh straight year.
  — ABC News, 17 May 2026
• This year, runner-ups will walk away with slightly more.
  — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
• Will any of their stars go from runner-up to award-winner?
  — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
• Yes, the Hawkeyes have been runner-ups the last two years in a row.
  — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025
• The Hornets were state runners-up a year ago.
  — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
• Now, anyone can claim a spot in the top four, even a runner-up or third-place team.
  — Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 24 May 2025
• The runner-up for that title is Licorice.
  — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
• The Hornets were state runners-up last year.
  — Chris Martucci, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
• Brown has trained two past Derby runners-up.
  — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 2 May 2026
• Lake Mary was the 2A runner-up.
  — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2026
• Would that spell doom for the season 35 runner-up?
  — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
• The project rises from the runner-up space back to the summit.
  — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
• Revuelta closed with a 68 and was runner-up.
  — ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
• Even a runner-up finish would get him in through the world ranking.
  — Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
• By the end of the day, Bennett will be named the third runner-up.
  — Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
• The pair finished as runners-up in the finale episode.
  — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2026
• Cedar Grove was the 2025 runner-up.
  — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
• She's been on those stages countless times, many times a runner-up up and many times overlooked.
  — Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
• The tune debuted in the runner-up spot in late June.
  — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
• No more runner-up to Cherry Creek.
  — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
• In both, he was sent home as the runner-up during the series finale.
  — Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 6 Feb. 2026
• Also, two runners-up will each win free Whataburger for a year.
  — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026
• Caminero was runner-up to Cal Raleigh in last year’s contest.
  — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 1 July 2026
• As of the time of writing, however, it has been pushed to the runner-up spot.
  — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
• That’s an easy answer for a team that has finished as runners-up three seasons in a row.
  — Stuart James, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
• There was no runner-up finish this time for an elite edge rusher in the prime of his career.
  — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2025
• Both teams finished as runner-up in their conference last year.
  — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2026
• Jokic was the runner-up to him in 2025.
  — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026
• O’Ward had two runner-up finishes and a third place in the last four years.
  — Michael Marot, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026