second-best

1 of 3

adjective

sec·​ond-best ˌse-kən(d)-ˈbest How to pronounce second-best (audio)
-kᵊŋ-
: next to the best

second best

2 of 3

noun

: one that is below or after the best

second best

3 of 3

adverb

: in second place

Examples of second-best in a Sentence

Noun He won't settle for second best.
Recent Examples on the Web
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
His 264-yard showing against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 7 landed him at No. 19 on the all-time list, and that's his second-best career performance. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024 Sean Dyche’s side had the worst xG figure in Season Four but the second-best xG conceded. Duncan Alexander, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
Among Michigan's many ski resorts is Mount Bohemia on the Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula, ranked second best nationwide by USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 10 Dec. 2024 As far as Tuesdays in November go, the Jon M. Chu directed title looks to be the second best currently behind Disney’s Frozen 2 which did $20.7M on Nov. 26, 2019. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 26 Nov. 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 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1647, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1777, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of second-best was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near second-best

second base

second-best

second best

Cite this Entry

“Second-best.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-best. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

second-best

adjective
: next to the best
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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