[ruhn-er-uhp] 
| 1. | the competitor, player, or team finishing in second place, as in a race, contest, or tournament. |
| 2. | runners-up, the competitors who do not win a contest but who place ahead of the majority of the contestants and share in prizes or honors, as those who place second, third, and fourth, or in the top ten. |
| run·ner-up (rŭn'ər-ŭp') n. pl. run·ners-up (rŭn'ərz-) One that takes second place, as in a game, sport, or other competition. |