runner-up
B2Formal to Informal (common in sports, competition, and awards contexts)
Definition
Meaning
The competitor or team that finishes in second place in a contest or competition.
A person or thing that is second best, or that comes close to winning or succeeding but does not quite achieve it. Also refers to the second-place finisher in a qualifying event that secures a spot in a subsequent main event.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun, typically hyphenated, but sometimes written as 'runner up'. Its plural is 'runners-up'. Focuses on position/ranking rather than qualities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or form. The hyphenated version 'runner-up' is standard in both.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties: often implies a significant achievement, but also the disappointment of narrowly missing first place.
Frequency
Equally common in both BrE and AmE, given its strong association with competitive sports and events prevalent in both cultures.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Team/Person] + be/come/finish + (the) runner-up + in/of/to [contest]The runner-up + in/of [contest] + [verb]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Always the bridesmaid, never the bride (related concept of consistently being runner-up)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in sales competitions, awards for employee of the month, or tender processes: 'Our bid was the runner-up in the government contract.'
Academic
Used in debates, research competitions, or scholarship rankings: 'Her thesis was the runner-up for the national prize.'
Everyday
Common in discussions of sports, game shows, school competitions, and elections: 'He was the runner-up in the school council election.'
Technical
Used in tournament brackets, seeding, and official competition regulations to denote the second qualifying position.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The runner-up prize was substantial.
- She received a runner-up certificate.
American English
- The runner-up award was a scholarship.
- He had a runner-up finish in the tournament.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She was the runner-up in the drawing competition.
- My brother came runner-up in the race.
- The runner-up will receive a prize of £500.
- After a close match, he finished as the runner-up.
- Having been runners-up for three seasons, the team was desperate to finally win the championship.
- The jury awarded first prize to the Italian novel, with a French translation as runner-up.
- Despite being the consistent runner-up in major tournaments, her career earnings remained impressive.
- The proposal was narrowly defeated, with the runner-up option being adopted as a compromise.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a race: the runner who comes UP right after the winner, finishing in the UPper part of the rankings.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITION IS RANKING (second is a spatial position just below first).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque like 'бегун вверх'. The correct equivalent is 'вице-чемпион', 'серебряный призёр', or 'занявший второе место'.
- The plural 'runners-up' does not follow typical Russian pluralization rules; remember it's based on the main noun 'runner'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'runner-up' as a verb (e.g., 'He runner-upped'). Incorrect: Use 'He finished as runner-up'.
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'runner-ups' instead of the correct 'runners-up'.
- Omitting the hyphen, which can cause ambiguity.
Practice
Quiz
What is the correct plural form of 'runner-up'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the standard and most common form is hyphenated ('runner-up'), though you may occasionally see it written as two words ('runner up'), especially in less formal contexts. The hyphenated form is preferred in dictionaries and formal writing.
Yes. While typically used for competitors, it can be applied to any entry in a contest, such as a film, book, design, or bid in a tender process that comes second.
They are largely synonymous. 'Runner-up' is slightly more formal and specific to competitive events, often implying a contest with a clear winner. 'Second place' is more general and can be used in non-competitive rankings (e.g., 'second place in my heart').
Use the plural 'runners-up'. Example: 'The three runners-up will all receive a consolation prize.' If referring to the position collectively, you can say 'the runner-up position' or 'the runner-up spot'.
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