: 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
Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Its data showed Alaska had the second-best safety score, third-best comfort and reliability, and fourth-best affordability.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
Monk had the second-best 10-yard split (1.74 seconds) among center prospects at the combine.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2024
Jacy Sheldon, a guard for Ohio State, considered to be the second-best guard option in the draft behind Clark.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 15 Apr. 2024
Best Nightlife Cloakroom Bar The 25-seat Cloakroom Bar, with a cloak-and-dagger atmosphere, was named Canada’s second-best bar in 2023.
—Elizabeth Warkentin, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2024
In addition, Casa de Mañana was also picked as the second-best facility in the western region.
—Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
The company took in $1.06 billion at the global box office in 2023, the second-best year in its history.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
With Adebayo on the court this season, the Heat has allowed just 109 points per 100 possessions for a defensive rating that would rank second-best in the NBA among teams.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Josh Dubow, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2023
Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2023
When the year wrapped, Red was the second best-selling LP of 2012 with 3.11 million, following Adele's 21.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 18 June 2021
His 138 yards over expectation ranked second best to Keisean Nixon's 214 for Green Bay.
—Josh Dubow, ajc, 11 Jan. 2023
For the year, the Ravens are allowing only 81 yards per game on the ground – second best in the NFL.
—Terry Pluto, cleveland, 17 Dec. 2022
Army has 11 players with at least 100 rushing yards this season and is averaging 304.4 rushing yards per game, second best in the country.
—Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 10 Dec. 2022
Oregon is best at containing the run, as its 112.55-yards per game average is narrowly second best in the Pac-12 behind Oregon State.
—oregonlive, 25 Nov. 2022
Minnesota is ready to exploit this if needed as evidenced by its 8.33 yards per carry off left tackle this season, second best in the NFL.
—Dallas News, 19 Nov. 2022
The Dallas Cowboys are 5-2 and have held opponents to just 14.9 points per game, second best in the NFL.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2022
Adjective
The Kings went into Thursday’s game holding the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs and anticipating a first-round matchup with the Dallas Stars, the team with the second-best record in the NHL and one which has owned the Kings this season.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Its data showed Alaska had the second-best safety score, third-best comfort and reliability, and fourth-best affordability.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
Monk had the second-best 10-yard split (1.74 seconds) among center prospects at the combine.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2024
Jacy Sheldon, a guard for Ohio State, considered to be the second-best guard option in the draft behind Clark.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 15 Apr. 2024
Best Nightlife Cloakroom Bar The 25-seat Cloakroom Bar, with a cloak-and-dagger atmosphere, was named Canada’s second-best bar in 2023.
—Elizabeth Warkentin, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2024
In addition, Casa de Mañana was also picked as the second-best facility in the western region.
—Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
The company took in $1.06 billion at the global box office in 2023, the second-best year in its history.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
With Adebayo on the court this season, the Heat has allowed just 109 points per 100 possessions for a defensive rating that would rank second-best in the NBA among teams.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Noun
His 81 touchdowns rank second best in AFL history behind Don Maynard, and his 8,015 yards receiving were third behind only Maynard and Hall of Famer Lance Alworth.
—Josh Dubow, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2023
Adverb
Among the challenges for the second best-selling female artist of all time?
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2023
When the year wrapped, Red was the second best-selling LP of 2012 with 3.11 million, following Adele's 21.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 18 June 2021
His 138 yards over expectation ranked second best to Keisean Nixon's 214 for Green Bay.
—Josh Dubow, ajc, 11 Jan. 2023
For the year, the Ravens are allowing only 81 yards per game on the ground – second best in the NFL.
—Terry Pluto, cleveland, 17 Dec. 2022
Army has 11 players with at least 100 rushing yards this season and is averaging 304.4 rushing yards per game, second best in the country.
—Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 10 Dec. 2022
Oregon is best at containing the run, as its 112.55-yards per game average is narrowly second best in the Pac-12 behind Oregon State.
—oregonlive, 25 Nov. 2022
Minnesota is ready to exploit this if needed as evidenced by its 8.33 yards per carry off left tackle this season, second best in the NFL.
—Dallas News, 19 Nov. 2022
The Dallas Cowboys are 5-2 and have held opponents to just 14.9 points per game, second best in the NFL.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'second-best.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near second-best
Cite this Entry
“Second-best.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-best. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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