How to Use runner-up in a Sentence

runner-up

noun
  • Yes, the Hawkeyes have been runner-ups the last two years in a row.
    — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Leah and Miguel were the 2024 runners-up and JaNa and Kenny came in third.
    — Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 22 July 2024
  • Leah and Miguel were the 2024 runners-up and JaNa and Kenny came in third.
    — Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 12 July 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
  • They’ll be led by Denver Shields, the indoor state runner-up in the 55.
    — Anthony Maluso, Baltimore Sun, 22 Mar. 2023
  • Now, anyone can claim a spot in the top four, even a runner-up or third-place team.
    — Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 24 May 2025
  • As of the time of writing, however, it has been pushed to the runner-up spot.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • The biggest boars, like runner-up Chunk, are well over 1,200 pounds.
    — Natalie Kainz, NBC News, 13 Oct. 2023
  • The runner-up will win $1,000 as will the people’s choice winner.
    — Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 21 May 2024
  • Vistra Vistra is poised to take the runner-up spot with a surge of more than 263%.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024
  • The Lakers were the runner-up to the Celtics in six of Boston’s 10 championship wins.
    — Shannon Carlin, Time, 4 Aug. 2023
  • The Falcons certainly did not want to be the runners-up for a third straight year.
    — Breven Honda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Nov. 2023
  • That includes 2023, in which the offense thrived and Prescott finished as the MVP runner-up.
    — Saad Yousuf, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
  • That track ranks as the runner-up globally and reigns supreme outside the U.S.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Hadwin missed a 22-foot putt to earn the runner-up spot behind Fowler, who made a 12-foot birdie putt to win.
    — Alexis Cubit, The Courier-Journal, 9 July 2023
  • On the sixth day, the winners of each pool would play for the gold medal, preceded by the runners-up playing for the bronze medal.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2023
  • The runner-up is New York, with 31 cities, followed by New Jersey with 21.
    — Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 16 Aug. 2024
  • Conner lapped the field as state runner-up Louisville St. Xavier finished with 154 points.
    — Alex Harrison, The Enquirer, 16 June 2023
  • That’s more than twice as many purchases as the runner-up on the Top Album Sales list this frame.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
  • The big surprise, though, was the runner-up: Trader Joe’s Tomato Basil, at $1.99.
    — Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2024
  • The winner of that showdown will play the runner-up in Group D, the group currently topped by the United States.
    — Jon Arnold, New York Times, 19 June 2025
  • Vimeo is not just a YouTube runner-up from the earlier days of the internet.
    — Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024
  • But Penix's throw was a beat behind the Biletnikoff Award runner-up and the two couldn't connect on the would-be walk-in touchdown.
    — Detroit Free Press, 9 Jan. 2024
  • The Bobcats have one state title and a runner-up finish.
    — Brad Emons, Detroit Free Press, 24 Mar. 2023
  • Osceola won a state title in 1998 and has been a runner-up five times.
    — Staff Reports, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Nov. 2024
  • That will be followed by a 7:30 p.m. match featuring the Group A winner against the Group D runner-up.
    — The Enquirer, 18 Apr. 2023
  • And the likes of 2020 runners-up Pete Buttigieg and Cory Booker have lost none of their ambition.
    — Philip Elliott, TIME, 1 July 2024
  • The film, which is based on a true story, also took the runner-up best film Lola in silver.
    — Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 May 2024
  • That’s the most of any U.S. city, with the runner-up, Baltimore, having hosted 10.
    — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2024
  • Pavelski, a runner-up two of the past three years, is seeking his first title here on Lake Tahoe’s south shore.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 11 July 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'runner-up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: