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
His 970 yards are a Miami freshman record for single-season receiving yards, while his 84 catches are second only to Xavier Restrepo’s 85 catches in the 2023 season for the most by a Hurricanes player ever in a single season.
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Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
Michigan’s diverse and rich agriculture, second only to California, goes into so many products offered and many companies put the spotlight on using items grown here – especially homegrown fruits.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 11 Dec. 2025
Elmhirst’s retelling is a triumph, second only to the seemingly impossible feat of Maurice and Maralyn themselves.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
With 13 goal contributions during the playoffs, no player has more in league history, and Messi's six goals are second only to his teammate Tadeo Allende, while his seven assists (including secondary assists) lead all players, CBS Sports reports.
—Hunter Geisel, CBS News, 6 Dec. 2025
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Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
Michigan’s diverse and rich agriculture, second only to California, goes into so many products offered and many companies put the spotlight on using items grown here – especially homegrown fruits.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 11 Dec. 2025
Elmhirst’s retelling is a triumph, second only to the seemingly impossible feat of Maurice and Maralyn themselves.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
With 13 goal contributions during the playoffs, no player has more in league history, and Messi's six goals are second only to his teammate Tadeo Allende, while his seven assists (including secondary assists) lead all players, CBS Sports reports.
—Hunter Geisel, CBS News, 6 Dec. 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 Dec. 2025.
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