How to Use second-string in a Sentence

second-string

adjective
  • But the meat was always second-string.
    Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025
  • There won’t be any risk of rotation or second-string teams.
    Holly Shand, New York Times, 22 May 2026
  • Javier Otero is back as the club’s second-string goalkeeper as well.
    Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Their entire knockout route would be set depending on this, so to put out a second-string team came as a surprise.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 26 June 2026
  • For two straight seasons, Ballard has beaten out Marshall for the second-string job.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Dart consistently has worked with the second-string offense during training camp.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 11 Aug. 2025
  • And San Francisco would not have pulled it off if not for the play of a quarterback who entered the season second-string.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025
  • But Jonah Williams has earned second-string snaps during Citrus Bowl practices the past week.
    Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 29 Dec. 2025
  • Albin gave second-string quarterback Grayson Loftis the 49ers’ final two drives.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Gabriel was drafted two rounds earlier than Sanders and naturally had the leg up in the competition for the second-string spot.
    Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
  • None were afforded enough time on the pitch to really impress and, at this early stage of pre-season, the second-string players are largely filling gaps in the squad.
    Chris Waugh, New York Times, 25 July 2026
  • Their second-string defense held Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos without a touchdown.
    Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Tied at the time, Boston was outscored 13-2 with their second-string big on the floor and ended the quarter down 31-20.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Wilson was anointed the team's starter entering the season, but Dart earned the second-string role after a strong preseason performance.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Crimson Tide second-string quarterback Austin Mack finished the game with 103 passing yards.
    Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
  • But manager Ståle Solbakken played a second-string side for that match and made 10 changes to the team that beat Senegal 3-2.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • Williams completed 8 of 12 passes for 86 yards while leading UM’s second-string offense to scores on two of three drives.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Rookie running back Ollie Gordon II may have gone from fourth-string running back to second-string in a matter of seven days.
    David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Westover transitioned to fullback last training camp but spent all of practice as the Patriots’ second-string tight end behind Henry.
    Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026
  • Garza was the Celtics’ second-string center for the first month of the season, but the team’s late-November shift toward smaller lineups pushed him out of the rotation.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
  • The setback is a tough blow for Reichert, who appeared to be in line for early-season opportunities as Missouri’s second-string right guard.
    Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Miami also returned redshirt sophomore Emory Williams, who figures to be the second-string quarterback.
    Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Heck, even Emory Williams had a 10 yard carry in the fourth quarter during the one drive when UM put its second-string offense in to wrap up the game.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Pickett, 27, spent 2025 as second-string quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Jameis Winston and the rookie Jaxson Dart have been battling for the second-string spot throughout the preseason.
    Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
  • Dart is currently the second-string behind Russell Wilson, but he was used in a few run-pass-option plays last week against the Dallas Cowboys.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2025
  • DeVito clearly impressed the Patriots’ staff enough last season to be promoted to second-string behind Maye.
    Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Below him, the 18-year-old Douglass Lukjanciks is another promising prospect but is likely to play further second-string games, with a loan of his own the next step.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 May 2026
  • The star portrayed lead, Mox, a second-string quarterback called up after the team's starting QB (Paul Walker) is injured.
    Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Considering his similar build to Nico Iamaleava, the transfer’s odds appear higher for second-string status.
    Benjamin Royer, Daily News, 18 Jan. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'second-string.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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