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
Broadband has also brought change to Nollywood, Nigeria’s vast film industry, second only to India’s Bollywood in terms of worldwide film output.
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IEEE Spectrum, 6 Aug. 2025
This sector is second only to utilities, up 15.1% in 2025.
—Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2025
The son of a London lawyer, More entered Henry’s service by 1518, acting as an adviser and secretary before ascending to the role of lord chancellor, second only to the king in political power, in 1529.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
As a new year approached, on a day that should be remembered second only to Independence Day, Washington fulfilled his destiny, not as an American Cromwell, but as the American Cincinnatus.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
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IEEE Spectrum, 6 Aug. 2025
This sector is second only to utilities, up 15.1% in 2025.
—Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2025
The son of a London lawyer, More entered Henry’s service by 1518, acting as an adviser and secretary before ascending to the role of lord chancellor, second only to the king in political power, in 1529.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
As a new year approached, on a day that should be remembered second only to Independence Day, Washington fulfilled his destiny, not as an American Cromwell, but as the American Cincinnatus.
—Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 19 Aug. 2025.
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