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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India’s emissions have also quintupled since 1990, with an increase of 2.2 billion metric tons since 2000—second only to China in absolute growth.
—
Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Forty-two lightning deaths have been reported in Texas since 2006, second only to Florida, where 93 deaths have been attributed to lightning over the same time span.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 23 June 2025
Caufield’s 118 career goals are second only to No. 1 pick Jack Hughes among 2019 draftees.
—The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Ramirez’s 11 home runs lead the Marlins and all MLB rookies while his 22 extra-base hits rank second only to the Athletics’ Jacob Wilson (24).
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 21 June 2025
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Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Forty-two lightning deaths have been reported in Texas since 2006, second only to Florida, where 93 deaths have been attributed to lightning over the same time span.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 23 June 2025
Caufield’s 118 career goals are second only to No. 1 pick Jack Hughes among 2019 draftees.
—The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Ramirez’s 11 home runs lead the Marlins and all MLB rookies while his 22 extra-base hits rank second only to the Athletics’ Jacob Wilson (24).
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 21 June 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 14 Jul. 2025.
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