How to Use runner-up in a Sentence

runner-up

noun
Definition of runner-upnext
  • Leah and Miguel were the 2024 runners-up and JaNa and Kenny came in third.
    — Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 22 July 2024
  • They’ll be led by Denver Shields, the indoor state runner-up in the 55.
    — Anthony Maluso, Baltimore Sun, 22 Mar. 2023
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • This time around, Folklore rises to the highest spot, climbing from the runner-up rung.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
  • Sierra Leone, the Derby runner-up who went off as the favorite, was third and Honor Marie fourth.
    — CBS News, 8 June 2024
  • Two weeks earlier, the duet debuted at the runner-up rank on each list.
    — Gary Trust, Billboard, 9 Sep. 2024
  • Brodahl was the runner-up in last year’s state tournament.
    — Nick Celario, oregonlive, 17 May 2023
  • But the second-place judges also had Devitt as runner-up, 2-1.
    — Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 25 Jan. 2024
  • Kloe Froebe of Lincoln was the Ms. Basketball runner-up.
    — Chicago Tribune Staff, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2023
  • The Dodgers are the runner-up, with a $5.5-billion valuation and $1.1-billion brand.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024
  • The runners-up, or finalists, in each draw will earn a pretty penny too.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 12 July 2024
  • Then pile the stress and expectations of being the next big thing who hasn’t quite turned that corner, a 14-time runner-up with two of those in majors, and the heat grows.
    — Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2024
  • This keyboard is a runner-up in our guide to Best MacBook Accessories.
    — Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 23 Nov. 2023
  • In the most recent batch of Netflix episodes, Leclerc battled for a world championship title and came in as runner-up.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 24 Oct. 2023

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.

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