runner-up
noun
the competitor, player, or team finishing in second place, as in a race, contest, or tournament.
runners-up
-
pluralof runner-up.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
When Walter and his partners bought the Dodgers, the runners-up: the bid team of Cohen and Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Meanwhile, the football association of 2026 World Cup runners-up Argentina praised Infantino for recognising and apologising for his "errors".
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
He helped them reach the Women's Champions League group stages for the first time last year, while they finished runners-up in three domestic cup finals.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
The pair were runners-up to winners Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
It was what separated the queens from the runners-up.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
