second

1 of 5

adjective

sec·​ond ˈse-kənd 

 also  -kənt,

 especially before a consonant  -kən,

-kᵊŋ

1

a

: next to the first in place or time

was second in line

b(1)

: next to the first in value, excellence, or degree

his second choice of schools

(2)

: inferior, subordinate

was second to none

c

: ranking next below the top of a grade or degree in authority or precedence

second mate

d

: alternate, other

elects a mayor every second year

e

: resembling or suggesting a prototype : another

a second Thoreau

f

: being the forward gear or speed next higher than first in a motor vehicle

2

: relating to or having a part typically subordinate to and lower in pitch than the first part in concerted or ensemble music

second

2 of 5

noun (1)

1

a

: one that is number two in a series see Table of Numbers

b

: one that is next after the first in rank, position, authority, or precedence

the second in line

2

: one that assists or supports another

especially : the assistant of a duelist or boxer

3

a

: the musical interval embracing two diatonic degrees

b

: a tone at this interval

specifically : supertonic

c

: the harmonic combination of two tones a second apart

4

a

seconds plural : merchandise that is usually slightly flawed and does not meet the manufacturer's standard for firsts or irregulars

b

: an article of such merchandise

5

: the act or declaration by which a parliamentary motion is seconded

6

: a place next below the first in a competition, examination, or contest

7

: second base

8

: the second forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle

9

seconds plural : a second helping of food

second

3 of 5

adverb

1

: in the second place : secondly

These two kinds of image … have a powerful appeal for us, first, because we are all … inevitably concerned about our fate, and second, because our concern is itself twofold …

—Robert Penn Warren

2

: before all others with one exception

the nation's second largest city

They are my second favorite band.

second

4 of 5

noun (2)

1

a

: the 60th part of a minute of angular measure

b

: the 60th part of a minute of time : 1/86,400 part of the mean solar day

specifically : the base unit of time in the International System of Units that is equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium-133 atom

2

: an instant of time : moment

second

5 of 5

verb

seconded; seconding; seconds

transitive verb

1

a

: to give support or encouragement to : assist

b

: to support (a fighting person or group) in combat : bring up reinforcements for

2

a

: to support or assist in contention or debate

b

: to endorse (a motion or a nomination) so that debate or voting may begin

3

si-ˈkänd  chiefly British : to release (someone, such as a military officer) from a regularly assigned position for temporary duty with another unit or organization

seconder noun

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• cull
• discard
• reject
• rejection

Noun (2)

• beat
• eyeblink
• flash
• heartbeat
• instant
• jiff
• jiffy
• minute
• moment
• nanosecond
• New York minute
• shake
• split second
• trice
• twinkle
• twinkling
• wink

Examples of second in a Sentence

Adjective

We sat in the second row.

the second house on the left

B is the second letter in the alphabet.

That's the second time I've seen him today.

Chocolate is my first choice; vanilla is my second choice.

The chair needs a second coat of paint.

She plays second violin in the city orchestra.

Noun (1)

the slightly flawed linens were sold as seconds

Verb

I would like to second the motion to adjourn.

“Let's call it a day.” “I'll second that.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Checkers advanced to the second round for the third time in six seasons with a strong start and finish. —Richard Walker, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2025

Hansi Flick’s men held on for a 4-3 victory when all was said and done, which means that Lamine’s second La Liga crown can be sealed by winning at another arch nemesis’ expense in Espanyol on Thursday night. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

Noun

By comparison, Witt circled the bases in 14.3 seconds to register the fastest inside-the-park homer since August 2017. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2025

Without excusing Weinstein’s thuggish qualities for a second, Evans was never the physical caricature of the studio exec. —John Tamny, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025

Adverb

In all of 2024, China ranked second, behind Mexico. —Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 14 May 2025

Jacob Wilson’s hitting stats Wilson is off to an incredible start, ranking second in the majors in hits (58) behind Aaron Judge. —Jim Bowden, New York Times, 14 May 2025

Verb

Right fielder Jake Fraley threw the ball to second on the double to right by Michael Harris II, and cutoff man Matt McLain was moving from his spot to take a throw from the outfield as the cutoff man toward home but had to move when the throw took him toward second. —C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 12 May 2025

His excellent play this season has vaulted him to second on the FedEx Cup standings, trailing only McIlroy. —Troy Finnegan‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French secund, from Latin secundus second, following, favorable, from sequi to follow — more at sue

Noun (2)

Middle English secounde, from Medieval Latin secunda, from Latin, feminine of secundus second; from its being the second sexagesimal division of a unit, as a minute is the first

Verb

Latin secundare, from secundus second, favorable

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing second

• any second now
• a poor second/third/fourth
• arc second
• at any second
• centimeter-gram-second
• come off second best
• every second
• foot-pound-second
• give a second thought to
• give (something) a second look
• half a minute/second
• have a minute/moment/second
• hot second
• in the second degree
• in the second place
• just a minute/second/moment
• just this minute/second
• leap second
• meter-kilogram-second
• on second thought
• on second thoughts
• per second per second
• petty officer second class
• play second fiddle
• right this second
• second banana
• second base
• second best
• second blessing
• second chance
• second childhood
• second class
• second-class citizen
• second cousin
• second-degree burn
• second estate
• second fiddle
• second floor
• second gentleman
• second glance
• second growth
• second-guess
• second hand
• second-in-command
• second lady
• second language
• second lieutenant
• second-line
• second mortgage
• second nature
• second only to
• second opinion
• second person
• second-rate
• second reading
• second sight
• second-story man
• second-string
• second thought
• second to last
• second to none
• second wind
• second world
• sidereal second
• split second
• split-second decision
• sweep-second hand
• thirty-second note
• thirty-second rest
• this second
• wait a minute/moment/second

Rhymes for second

• beckoned
• reckoned
• seconde
• femtosecond
• microsecond
• millisecond
• nanosecond
• picosecond

Kids Definition

second

1 of 4 adjective

sec·​ond ˈsek-ənd 

also

-ənt 

1

: being number two in a series see number

2

a

: next to the first in time, order, importance, or rank

second violin

second place

b

: other entry 1 sense 2

elects a mayor every second year

c

: resembling or suggesting an original : another

a second Shakespeare

second adverb

secondly adverb

second

2 of 4 noun

1

a

: one that is number two in a series see number

b

: one next after the first in time, order, importance, or rank

2

: one who assists another (as in a duel or prizefight)

3

: the difference in pitch between the first tone and the second tone of a scale

4

: a damaged or imperfect article (as of merchandise)

5

: the act of seconding a motion

6

: second base

7

: the second gear or speed in an automobile

8

plural : a second helping of food

second

3 of 4 noun

1

a

: the 60th part of a minute of angular measure

b

: the 60th part of a minute of time

especially : the international unit of time related to the period of the radiation corresponding to a change between the two levels of the ground state of a particular isotope of the cesium atom

2

: instant entry 1, moment

I'll be back in a second

second

4 of 4 verb

1

: to give support or encouragement to : assist

2

: to encourage that something be debated or voted on

second a motion

seconder noun

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English second "next to the first in position, order, or time," from early French secund (same meaning), from Latin secundus "second, following, favorable," from sequi "to follow" — related to sequel

Noun

Middle English secounde "the 60th part of a minute," from Latin secunda (same meaning), derived from earlier secundus (adjective) "second (in order), following, favorable"; so called from the fact that the minute is the first level of division of a degree or hour and this is the second level

Verb

from Latin secundare "to give support to, assist," from secundus (adjective) "second, following, favorable"