second 1 of 4

noun (1)

Definition of secondnext
as in minute
a very small space of time I'll be ready in a second

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

second

2 of 4

noun (2)

as in discard
something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others the slightly flawed linens were sold as seconds

Synonyms & Similar Words

second

3 of 4

adjective

as in another

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

second

4 of 4

verb

as in to assist

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of second
Noun
And in the hands of Lando Norris, the orange-and-black McLaren was fast enough to hunt down and pass Antonelli before winning by almost 12 seconds. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026 Cook, undisturbed, 5 seconds, then stir in a circular motion with a heatproof rubber spatula or wooden spoon until curds are just set, about 30 seconds more. — Nick Wong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Today, many of those same routes have found a second life, carrying travelers through some of the West’s most spectacular scenery while offering a glimpse into Colorado’s storied past. — Jocelyn Rowley, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026 Twenty years ago, Scott published her first novel, The Testing of Luther Albright, followed by a second, Traps, in 2013. — Rebecca Johnson, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
The inning began with a walk to Jarren Duran, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Tsung-Che Cheng. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 Arroyo advanced to second on a wild pitch with Elly De La Cruz at the plate, but Bradish struck out the Reds’ leadoff man to bring up the rookie Stewart, who was named to the All-Star team Saturday. — C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for second
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second
  1. minute
  2. discard
  3. another
  4. assist
  5. moment
  6. cull
  7. successive
  8. aid
Noun
  • Chen popped in a 30-foot 3-pointer with a minute remaining to give the Valkyries a three-point lead, and then kept the advantage at three with a slick layup over a contest after Chicago scored.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Less than a 10-minute drive away is Castellammare del Golfo, full of eateries, stores, and bars.
    — Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of minute
Noun
  • And defunct iIndustry supplied artistic entrepreneurs with adaptable real-estate discards, like London’s Bankside Power Station, which evolved into Herzog & de Meuron’s Tate Modern.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 29 July 2026
  • Wilted cilantro is safe to eat but may lack flavor and texture; discard leaves that are slimy, discolored, or have a foul odor.
    — Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026
Definition of discard
Adjective
  • Chief Randal Taylor, in an another car behind Adams, aided the pursuit, the police said.
    — Justin L. Mack, Indianapolis Star, 7 May 2020
  • As the Gophers kept winning in a historic season, stakes surrounding their season-ending rivalry game with Wisconsin kept ratcheting up — outgrowing even the another annual Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
    — Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 30 Nov. 2019
Definition of another
Verb
  • University police, the Hanover County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted several other federal and state agencies with the investigation, which is ongoing.
    — Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • From last fall through late April, the program had handled 138 calls, most of which sorted into the check well-being category (62) or the citizen assist one (56).
    — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of assist
Noun
  • That may still be the case in the coming weeks, but the second episode of HBO’s Lanterns makes for a fairly solid (if simple and straightforward) follow-up with some wildly entertaining moments.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • When Conforto returned to Williamsport with the Mets in 2018, all those moments came rushing back.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of moment
Noun
  • Tech companies, especially large ones, have continued to cull jobs during the AI boom.
    — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • On the company’s Friday call with analysts, Under Armour executives were peppered with questions about the new product cull, the company’s performance in different locales, and its overall marketing strategy.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of cull
Adjective
  • The Brazil international has been omitted from the squads for the Community Shield and the Coventry game on successive weekends, and looks likely to depart before next Tuesday’s deadline.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Members grew up during the violence of the Second Intifada and under successive right-wing governments, most led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when optimism or a road map for a more peaceful future was almost entirely absent.
    — Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of successive
Verb
  • Some political actors are warning that a vote during wartime, which would require changes to Ukraine’s constitution and other laws, could aid Russia by destabilizing the government and dividing society.
    — David L. Stern, Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the Continental Park residents, aided by the larger and politically influential Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations, are gearing up to fight the applications.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of aid

Phrases Containing second

Browse Nearby Words

seclusion
second
secondaries
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Second.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on second

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about second

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of southpaw

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All