: one that is below or after the best
: in second place
Examples of second-best in a Sentence
Noun
He won't settle for second best.
Recent Examples on the Web
Carl Anka, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
The Knicks have the NBA’s second-best offense, and when OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson return, the defense should follow suit.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024
Vistra has more than tripled in value to become the second best performing stock in the S & P 500 this year, outpacing chip powerhouse Nvidia and trailing only Palantir Technologies .
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024
Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2023
When the year wrapped, Red was the second best-selling LP of 2012 with 3.11 million, following Adele's 21.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 18 June 2021
See all Example Sentences for second-best 
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Adjective
United are often slow when using the ball and second-best when competing for loose balls.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
The Knicks have the NBA’s second-best offense, and when OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson return, the defense should follow suit.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
Noun
The Rams defense has not been great of late but has only given up seven plays of 20 or more yards (second best) the last four weeks.
—Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024
Vistra has more than tripled in value to become the second best performing stock in the S & P 500 this year, outpacing chip powerhouse Nvidia and trailing only Palantir Technologies .
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024
Adverb
Among the challenges for the second best-selling female artist of all time?
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2023
When the year wrapped, Red was the second best-selling LP of 2012 with 3.11 million, following Adele's 21.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 18 June 2021
See all Example Sentences for second-best
Dictionary Entries Near second-best
Cite this Entry
“Second-best.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-best. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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