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 Nona boys also won a 2022 state championship while the girls program had been runner-up four times (2011, 2019, 2024, 2025). —Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026

There is perhaps no harder position to enter the year than as the Super Bowl runner-up. —Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026

Part of those plans were unveiled at Hulu’s Get Real House 2026, with The Traitors runner-up Maura Higgins and Summer House star Ciara Miller announced as the first two celebrities boarding the 2026 Dancing season. —Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026

Tran was playing in his second straight final, having taken the runner-up prize with Trevor Nguyen in 2025. —Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for runner-up

• buttercup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup

Kids Definition

runner-up

noun

run·​ner-up

ˈrən-ə-ˌrəp

plural runners-up

: the competitor in a contest who finishes next to the winner