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
Medvedev, a three-time finalist and last year’s runner-up at the Australian Open, will now face 19-year-old American player Learner Tien in the second round.
—
Ben Church, CNN, 14 Jan. 2025
The tune lifts from the runner-up rung to the throne, reaching the peak position for the first time.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
In the second season, season 9 runner-up Peppermint was eliminated by her fellow traitors, after being targeted by eventual winner Trishelle, in the show’s very first roundtable.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 14 Jan. 2025
East Catholic’s only loss came to St. Bernard, last year’s Division I runner-up.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for runner-up 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ben Church, CNN, 14 Jan. 2025
The tune lifts from the runner-up rung to the throne, reaching the peak position for the first time.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
In the second season, season 9 runner-up Peppermint was eliminated by her fellow traitors, after being targeted by eventual winner Trishelle, in the show’s very first roundtable.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 14 Jan. 2025
East Catholic’s only loss came to St. Bernard, last year’s Division I runner-up.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for runner-up
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 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share