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
That’s more than twice as many purchases as the runner-up on the Top Album Sales list this frame.
—
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
The Dodgers are the runner-up, with a $5.5-billion valuation and $1.1-billion brand.
—Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024
Zoom in: The runner-ups rounding out our top 5 are equally ridiculous:
🐶 Stitch, the circa early aughts cartoon alien dog.
🍓 Strawberry Shortcake, the character from the '80s.
—Karri Peifer, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
Only two bars fell out of the ranking completely, not even being downgraded to the runner-up list of Nos. 50 to 100—Sago House, which was ranked No. 32 last year, and Galaxy Bar, which was No. 50.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for runner-up 
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
The Dodgers are the runner-up, with a $5.5-billion valuation and $1.1-billion brand.
—Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024
Zoom in: The runner-ups rounding out our top 5 are equally ridiculous:
🐶 Stitch, the circa early aughts cartoon alien dog.
🍓 Strawberry Shortcake, the character from the '80s.
—Karri Peifer, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
Only two bars fell out of the ranking completely, not even being downgraded to the runner-up list of Nos. 50 to 100—Sago House, which was ranked No. 32 last year, and Galaxy Bar, which was No. 50.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for runner-up
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'runner-up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near runner-up
Cite this Entry
“Runner-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runner-up. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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