second-string
adjective
sec·ond-string
ˌse-kən(d)-ˈstriŋ 
ˌse-kᵊŋ-
: being a substitute as distinguished from a regular (as on a ball team)
Examples of second-string in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Backup quarterback Husan Longstreet transferred to LSU two days before the transfer portal window closed to play for Lane Kiffin, leaving a vacancy for the second-string job at USC.
—
Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026
Chesney, and new offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy – who will also serve as quarterbacks coach – brought in a local Southern California product to compete for second-string snaps.
—Benjamin Royer, Daily News, 18 Jan. 2026
Weir sang the band’s country covers and his own material, and played rhythm guitar in a brilliantly eccentric manner that belied the job’s second-string implications — even while soundman Dan Healy was turning him down in the mix.
—Richard Gehr, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
Crimson Tide second-string quarterback Austin Mack finished the game with 103 passing yards.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
But Jonah Williams has earned second-string snaps during Citrus Bowl practices the past week.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 29 Dec. 2025
Garza was the Celtics’ second-string center for the first month of the season, but the team’s late-November shift toward smaller lineups pushed him out of the rotation.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Another silver lining to Lopez possibly getting a run as a starter is what that may do for Collins, who was supposed to originally be in a tandem with Lopez as second-string bigs.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
The undrafted rookie has impressed head coach Kevin O'Connell and his staff ever since the team added him in late spring, working his way up to second-string amid several injuries, trades and cuts along the way.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
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Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026
Chesney, and new offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy – who will also serve as quarterbacks coach – brought in a local Southern California product to compete for second-string snaps.
—Benjamin Royer, Daily News, 18 Jan. 2026
Weir sang the band’s country covers and his own material, and played rhythm guitar in a brilliantly eccentric manner that belied the job’s second-string implications — even while soundman Dan Healy was turning him down in the mix.
—Richard Gehr, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2026
Crimson Tide second-string quarterback Austin Mack finished the game with 103 passing yards.
—Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
But Jonah Williams has earned second-string snaps during Citrus Bowl practices the past week.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 29 Dec. 2025
Garza was the Celtics’ second-string center for the first month of the season, but the team’s late-November shift toward smaller lineups pushed him out of the rotation.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Another silver lining to Lopez possibly getting a run as a starter is what that may do for Collins, who was supposed to originally be in a tandem with Lopez as second-string bigs.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
The undrafted rookie has impressed head coach Kevin O'Connell and his staff ever since the team added him in late spring, working his way up to second-string amid several injuries, trades and cuts along the way.
—Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Second-string.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-string. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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