runner-up

/'rʌnər'ʌp/

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Explanation of "Runner-Up"

Definition: A "runner-up" is a noun that refers to a competitor who finishes in second place in a competition or contest. This means they were very close to winning but did not take first place.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "runner-up" when talking about sports, contests, or any situation where there are competitors.
• It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

Examples:

• In a sentence: "She was the runner-up in the baking contest, which means she made the second-best cake."
• In a sports context: "The team was the runner-up in the championship game last year."

Advanced Usage:

• You can also discuss the runner-up in contexts like awards shows, beauty pageants, or talent competitions.
• Example: "The film was nominated for an Oscar but ended up as the runner-up in the Best Picture category."

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "runner-up," but you may see it used in different forms:
  • Runner-up (singular)
  • Runners-up (plural)

Different Meanings:

• In a general sense, "runner-up" can simply refer to anyone who finishes second, not just in competitions. For example, "In the school election, she was the runner-up for class president."

Synonyms:

• Second place
• Contender
• Finalist (though a finalist can refer to those in the final round, not just the second place)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include "runner-up," you might come across phrases like:
  • "Close but no cigar": This means someone nearly succeeded but fell short, similar to being a runner-up.
  • "In the running": This means someone is still a contender in a competition but does not imply they have finished.

Summary:

A "runner-up" is an important term in competitions, signifying the effort and skill of those who come close to winning.

Academic

Noun

1. the competitor who finishes second

Synonyms

• second best