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

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Sunday was the Padres’ 52nd one-run game, more than all but three teams, and their 29th one-run victory, second only to the Mariners’ 30. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025 The Mid-Autumn Festival—second only to Lunar New Year in significance—has been observed for over 3,000 years. Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025 Their 31 bullpen losses are second only to the New York Mets (34) among teams that enter Friday's action in wild card or division-leading places. Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 The impact of the graphic silhouette of Wolford’s signature turtleneck bodysuit comes second only to that of the diverse cast the company has tapped to celebrate its 75th anniversary in its new campaign. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for second only to

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“Second only to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second%20only%20to. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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