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

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Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty was the runner-up with 309 first-place votes and 2,017 points. —

Mike Fitzpatrick, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024 His inspiring story moved the magazine's editors to pick Sanchez as the second-place runner-up in the Ultimate Guy contest. —

Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 15 Dec. 2024 Hunter received 552 first-place votes and 2,231 total points, while Jeanty finished as a runner-up with 309 first-place votes and 2,017 points. —

Homero De La Fuente, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024 Mister, Best and Thomas are three returning starters from Mount Carmel’s Class 3A state runner-up last winter. —

Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 14 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for runner-up