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
For these reasons and others, what happens in Mashhad reverberates across Iran, perhaps second only to events in Tehran itself.
—
Davood Moradian, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Spain now operates Europe’s longest high-speed network, at 2,469 miles, second only to China.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Her episode count is second only to that of Jim Drake, who directed 157 of the show’s 325 episodes.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
That, of course, is second only to the fiscal irresponsibility of our city leaders.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for second only to
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Davood Moradian, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Spain now operates Europe’s longest high-speed network, at 2,469 miles, second only to China.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Her episode count is second only to that of Jim Drake, who directed 157 of the show’s 325 episodes.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
That, of course, is second only to the fiscal irresponsibility of our city leaders.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
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 29 Jan. 2026.
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