Menu

Runner-up for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'rənər'əp

What does Runner-up really mean?

53 1
53

Hey there! So you're wondering about the meaning of "runner-up," huh? Well, no problem at all! I'm here to break it down for you in the simplest way possible.

Okay, imagine you are in a race with several other people, maybe your classmates. You're all trying to reach the finish line first because, well, winning is awesome! Now, let's say you didn't cross that finish line before anyone else did. You weren't the very first one to make it, but guess what? You still did really well! You came in second place, right after the person who won. And that my friend, is what being a "runner-up" means!

When we say someone is a "runner-up," it means they came in second place in a competition or a contest. It's like being the first of the people who didn't win. You were so close to being the winner, just one step away, but you were still way ahead of everyone else who participated. So, even though you didn't win, being a runner-up is definitely something to be proud of!

Let me give you an example to make it even clearer. Think of a talent show on TV. There are a bunch of great singers and dancers competing against each other, and the judges have to choose a winner. Now, the person who comes in first, who the judges think is the most talented, is the "winner" of the talent show. But the person who comes in second, who the judges also think is very talented, but just a little bit less talented than the winner, is the "runner-up."

So, a "runner-up" is like the second-place finisher in a competition or contest. They may not have won the whole thing, but they still did really well and had something special that made them stand out from the other participants. It's kind of like being the "first loser," but with a positive spin!

Now, I hope that explanation makes sense to you. Learning new words can be tricky sometimes, but don't worry, I'm here to help you every step of the way. So, remember, being a runner-up means coming in second place, right after the winner, in a race, competition, or contest. Keep up the great work, and who knows, maybe one day you'll be the winner or even a runner-up yourself!


Revised and Fact checked by Robert Jones on 2023-10-29 18:24:35

Runner-up In a sentece

Learn how to use Runner-up inside a sentece

  • In a race, the runner who finishes in second place is called the runner-up.
  • In a singing competition, the person who comes in second is called the runner-up.
  • In a spelling bee, the person who gets second place is called the runner-up.
  • In a soccer tournament, the team that finishes in second position is called the runner-up.
  • In a beauty pageant, the contestant who is declared the second-best is called the runner-up.

Runner-up Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

second best second best

Runner-up Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

challenger challenger competition competition competitor competitor contender contender rival rival