second only to
idiom
: only less important than (something or someone)
Rice is second only to corn as the state's major crop.
Examples of second only to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Los Angeles area has one of the country’s largest Jewish populations, and the state’s Jewish population is second only to New York in this country.
—
David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 28 May 2024
In my opinion, The Brothers Karamazov is second only to Anna Karenina in the Russian-novel world.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 28 May 2024
In the mid-19th century, Nightingale became perhaps the most celebrated woman of her era – second only to Queen Victoria – for instituting sanitation practices that sharply cut death rates among British soldiers fighting in the Crimean War.
—Melissa Pritchard, Discover Magazine, 24 May 2024
The state police response was second only to U.S. Border Patrol, which saw nearly 150 agents respond.
—Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 23 May 2024
Between 1890 and 1910, the region was booming and grew to become one of the greatest concentrations of industry in the city, second only to the Menomonee Valley.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 20 May 2024
Prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer death in American men.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2024
China is now second only to the United States as the largest investor in Monterrey, a northern Mexico city of 6 million people.
—Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 15 May 2024
About 1,040 people who identify as Thai live in Thai Town, second only to Long Beach, where there are more than 1,100.
—Aida Ylanan, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 28 May 2024
In my opinion, The Brothers Karamazov is second only to Anna Karenina in the Russian-novel world.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 28 May 2024
In the mid-19th century, Nightingale became perhaps the most celebrated woman of her era – second only to Queen Victoria – for instituting sanitation practices that sharply cut death rates among British soldiers fighting in the Crimean War.
—Melissa Pritchard, Discover Magazine, 24 May 2024
The state police response was second only to U.S. Border Patrol, which saw nearly 150 agents respond.
—Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 23 May 2024
Between 1890 and 1910, the region was booming and grew to become one of the greatest concentrations of industry in the city, second only to the Menomonee Valley.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 20 May 2024
Prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer death in American men.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2024
China is now second only to the United States as the largest investor in Monterrey, a northern Mexico city of 6 million people.
—Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 15 May 2024
About 1,040 people who identify as Thai live in Thai Town, second only to Long Beach, where there are more than 1,100.
—Aida Ylanan, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'second only to.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near second only to
Cite this Entry
“Second only to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second%20only%20to. Accessed 31 May. 2024.
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