: one that is below or after the best
: in second place
Examples of second-best in a Sentence
Noun
He won't settle for second best.
Recent Examples on the Web
Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Drummond beat Neemias Queta and backup Nikola Vucevic for second-chance baskets, and the 76ers outscored the Celtics by 12 points over his 26 minutes, the second-best mark behind Edgecombe’s plus-17.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 13 Feb. 2026
People and governments see China as a poor second best but resent being forced to kowtow to our president.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
Fred Imbert, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
In three meetings with the East Yorkshire club this season, Phil Parkinson’s side have been distinctly second best.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for second-best
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Adjective
Leclerc and his teammate Lewis Hamilton have what certainly appears to be the second-best car on the grid after three race weekends, behind only Mercedes.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Drummond beat Neemias Queta and backup Nikola Vucevic for second-chance baskets, and the 76ers outscored the Celtics by 12 points over his 26 minutes, the second-best mark behind Edgecombe’s plus-17.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
Surprisingly, the control group that received just water was doing second best, with the stems still standing stiff and only the outer petals showing a few signs of wilting.
—Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 13 Feb. 2026
People and governments see China as a poor second best but resent being forced to kowtow to our president.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
Adverb
Materials is the second best-performing S & P 500 sector this year, up more than 14%.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
In three meetings with the East Yorkshire club this season, Phil Parkinson’s side have been distinctly second best.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for second-best
Cite this Entry
“Second-best.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-best. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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