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Synonyms

runner-up

American  
[ruhn-er-uhp] / ˈrʌn ərˈʌp /

noun

plural

runners-up

  1. the competitor, player, or team finishing in second place, as in a race, contest, or tournament.

  2. runners-up, the competitors who do not win a contest but who place ahead of the majority of the contestants and share in prizes or honors, as those who place second, third, and fourth, or in the top ten.

runner-up British  

noun

  1. a contestant finishing a race or competition in second place

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of runner-up

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He also was runner-up in 2019 and 2023, and finished third in 2024 in addition to 2025.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

A four-time player, Season 23 runner-up and 2015 Survivor Hall of Fame inductee, Coach is one of the show’s most legendary figures.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Australian Open champion Rybakina was the losing finalist in Miami in both 2023 and 2024, while her American opponent was runner-up in last year's competition.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Alex Marquez finished last season as runner-up and he could well challenge his brother for the title again in a field packed with talent.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

This is the woman who is first runner-up to Vanessa Williams!

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.