: 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
James Mirtle, New York Times, 1 May 2025
The Padres’ 19-11 start matches the 2022 and 2010 clubs for the second-best 30-game starts in franchise history.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025
David Keller, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2025
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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Tampa Bay looked like a serious contender all year, with the NHL’s seventh-best record this season and second-best goal differential.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 1 May 2025
The Padres’ 19-11 start matches the 2022 and 2010 clubs for the second-best 30-game starts in franchise history.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025
Noun
The second best performing sector in 2025 has been consumer staples, and the tobacco group has shown strong performance going back to mid-2024.
—David Keller, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2025
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Second-best.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-best. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share