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 health care options in Chiang Mai are second only to Bangkok.
—
Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Since the beginning of last season, the Reds have been shut out 23 times, second only to the Chicago White Sox (24) in that same period.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 12 May 2025
Nearly a third of foreign students come from China, which is second only to India (a trend mirroring the larger makeup of international students in the United States).
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 9 May 2025
The 1% Club was second only to John de Mol’s The Floor from The Netherlands for new launches, which knocked The Traitors off its perch to take K7’s top format prize in 2024.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for second only to
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Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Since the beginning of last season, the Reds have been shut out 23 times, second only to the Chicago White Sox (24) in that same period.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 12 May 2025
Nearly a third of foreign students come from China, which is second only to India (a trend mirroring the larger makeup of international students in the United States).
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 9 May 2025
The 1% Club was second only to John de Mol’s The Floor from The Netherlands for new launches, which knocked The Traitors off its perch to take K7’s top format prize in 2024.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 May 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 21 May. 2025.
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