runners-up
Second-place finishers
Runners-up is the plural of runner-up—competitors who finish second, or more broadly, those who place just behind the winner.
In competitions with multiple categories or divisions, there may be several runners-up: The runners-up each received consolation prizes.
The hyphen persists even in plural form.
Athletes awarded for second
- second placeRanking below first
- bridesmaidBride's ceremonial assistant
- next in linePositioned to succeed immediately
- second bestRanked just below top
vice-champion · honorable mention · consolation prize · near miss · so close · almost there · not quite · second fiddle
Last competitors standing
- contendersThose seeking to win
- semifinalistsThose nearing championship round
- qualifiersWords limiting scope
- shortlistedAdvanced to final consideration
nominees · challengers · competitors · entrants · participants · also-rans · eliminated · knocked out
Expressed approval of
- acknowledgedAccepted as true
- honoredGiven recognition or respect
- citedMentioned as evidence
- mentionedBriefly referred to
credited · noted · distinguished · shortlisted · nominated · celebrated · lauded · recognized
silver medalists
Athletes awarded for second
- second placeRanking below first
- bridesmaidBride's ceremonial assistant
- next in linePositioned to succeed immediately
second best · vice-champion · honorable mention · consolation prize · near miss · so close · almost there · not quite · second fiddle
finalists
Last competitors standing
- contendersThose seeking to win
- semifinalistsThose nearing championship round
- qualifiersWords limiting scope
shortlisted · nominees · challengers · competitors · entrants · participants · also-rans · eliminated · knocked out
commended
Expressed approval of
- acknowledgedAccepted as true
- honoredGiven recognition or respect
- citedMentioned as evidence
mentioned · credited · noted · distinguished · shortlisted · nominated · celebrated · lauded · recognized · awarded
silver medalists
Athletes awarded for second
- Silver medalistssecond place finishers
- Soccergoal, soccer, pass, football, goalkeeper
- Champions LeagueUEFA, knockout rounds, trophy, group stage, quarterfinals
- runner-upssilver medalists, second place
- International SoccerFIFA World Cup, World Cup, UEFA Euro, Copa America, Champions League
- candidatescandidate, candidates, nominee, nominees, contender
runners-upwinners
Those who prevail
champions · victors · gold medalists · titleholders · title winners
runners-updead last
Finishing behind all others
last place · losers · also-rans · bottom dwellers · cellar dwellers
run, running, runs, overrun, outrun, rerun, reruns, outrunning, outruns