: 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
Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2025
The Orlando Pride face Utah Royals FC on Sunday in thrilling NWSL soccer action, in a matchup featuring the second-best team in the league this season, Orlando.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Aug. 2025
Peter Debruge, Variety, 22 July 2025
Whereas Las Vegas was voted second best and was a much better race, despite Verstappen notching another victory.
—Rob Reed, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for second-best
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
And rounding out the top three spots is Indiana, which has the second-best road quality and the ninth-lowest traffic congestion in the nation.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2025
The Orlando Pride face Utah Royals FC on Sunday in thrilling NWSL soccer action, in a matchup featuring the second-best team in the league this season, Orlando.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Aug. 2025
Noun
Marvel has made clear that the studio is preparing the Fantastic Four’s most iconic nemesis, Dr. Doom, for a forthcoming film, but the planet-obliterating combo of Galactus and Silver Surfer hardly feel like second best.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 22 July 2025
Whereas Las Vegas was voted second best and was a much better race, despite Verstappen notching another victory.
—Rob Reed, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
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
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 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share