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
Frederickson, a Heisman Trophy runner-up, made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, but missed his second season with a knee injury, and never fully regained his early form.
—
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
The Chris Sale parallels have been eerily excellent so far, with both leading the majors in strikeouts and either MLB or the AL in innings in their first Red Sox seasons, and finishing runner-up to an AL Central pitcher for the Cy Young Award.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
Song, who is committed to Yale, finished as the Trinity League runner-up and won the Southern individual regional.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 2025
Cole and Crosby are runners-up to Sinatra for longest spans of top 10 albums on the Billboard 200.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
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Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
The Chris Sale parallels have been eerily excellent so far, with both leading the majors in strikeouts and either MLB or the AL in innings in their first Red Sox seasons, and finishing runner-up to an AL Central pitcher for the Cy Young Award.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
Song, who is committed to Yale, finished as the Trinity League runner-up and won the Southern individual regional.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 2025
Cole and Crosby are runners-up to Sinatra for longest spans of top 10 albums on the Billboard 200.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for runner-up
Cite this Entry
“Runner-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/runner-up. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.
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