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
The winner will receive $2.24 million and the runners-up $1.12 million.
—
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
That’s no longer the case, after back-to-back seasons as EPL runners-up to Manchester City.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 19 Feb. 2025
The Heisman runner-up is a high-volume playmaker with elite contact balance.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2025
Things were up in the air for Grace and Luca, but with their sheer determination to make it through, the couple ended up as runner-ups for the show.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Feb. 2025
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Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
That’s no longer the case, after back-to-back seasons as EPL runners-up to Manchester City.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 19 Feb. 2025
The Heisman runner-up is a high-volume playmaker with elite contact balance.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2025
Things were up in the air for Grace and Luca, but with their sheer determination to make it through, the couple ended up as runner-ups for the show.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Feb. 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 23 Feb. 2025.
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