Definition

Noun: A runner-up finish is the act or result of completing a competition, contest, or race in second place. It refers specifically to the achievement of being the competitor who finishes directly after the winner.

Usage

This term is used to describe the outcome or final standing of a participant in a competitive event. It is a specific type of finish, highlighting the position of second place.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• Close runner-up finish: Used to emphasize that the second-place result was very near to first place.
  • The election resulted in a historically close runner-up finish.
• Consistent runner-up finish: Used to describe a pattern of frequently achieving second place.
  • The athlete was known for her consistent runner-up finishes in major events.

Variants and Related Words

• Runner-up (noun): The person or team that finishes in second place.
  • She was the runner-up in the spelling bee.
• Second-place finish (noun phrase): A near-synonymous phrase for finishing in second position.

Synonyms

• Second place
• Silver medal position (in contexts where medals are awarded)

Related Phrases

• Finish as runner-up: A verbal phrase describing the action of achieving second place.
  • He finished as runner-up in the competition.

Noun

1. a finish in second place (as in a race)