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 year 2025 marked the second-busiest the restaurant has been in all 21 years of the restaurant’s existence, Wohlfarth said — second only to 2022, the year after COVID restrictions settled.
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Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2026
The La Jolla school added 831 students, second only to UC Riverside, which gained 1,249.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
And the Jags went 5-3 against playoff teams, second only to the Seahawks’ 6-2 mark.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
In total this season, Suamataia allowed just three sacks in 1,091 snaps, second only to Humphrey (1,093) in terms of offensive playtime.
—Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
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Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2026
The La Jolla school added 831 students, second only to UC Riverside, which gained 1,249.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
And the Jags went 5-3 against playoff teams, second only to the Seahawks’ 6-2 mark.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
In total this season, Suamataia allowed just three sacks in 1,091 snaps, second only to Humphrey (1,093) in terms of offensive playtime.
—Kansas City Star, 8 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 18 Jan. 2026.
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