seconds 1 of 3

Definition of secondsnext
plural of second

seconds

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of second
as in discards
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

seconds

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of second

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 seconds
Noun
Rasmus Dahlin scored 32 seconds into the game on a nifty backhand after weaving through Montreal’s zone. Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 17 May 2026 On fourth-and-9, Gonzalez connected with Merhi in the corner of the end zone for a go-ahead score with 25 seconds remaining. Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2026 The Tempo didn’t make things easy, cutting the deficit to two points late and later trailing by just three with 31 seconds remaining and possession of the ball. Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2026 The best eclipse experience may not belong to those who chase the longest seconds of totality. David Nikel, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026 Power comes from the manual-wind caliber 30-255 PS, with a 65-hour power reserve and a stop-seconds function for precise setting. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 May 2026 But within seconds of sitting down inside the Tarrant County Jail on Friday, the conversation took an unexpected turn. Doug Dunbar, CBS News, 16 May 2026 The second questionable omission was with 30 seconds left in regulation, a crucial play in the Fever’s ferocious comeback to send the game to overtime. Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026 In the six hours leading up to the main failure, the gaps between these seismic signals shrank to between 30 to 60 seconds. Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for seconds
Noun
  • Michael Dale lay in his Escondido home with a plastic bag wrapped around his head and sealed with duct tape for at least eight minutes as Michaela Rylaarsdam, vibrator in hand, kept the cameras rolling, according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in San Diego Superior Court.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
  • The son said police arrived within about 10 minutes.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • The vast majority of those discards wind up in the trash, further exacerbating the avocado’s environmental impact.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The discards fill recycling bins to the brim and clutter closets, basements and hallways.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Much like their youthful, emotional heartbeats, malls in the ’80s and ’90s bustled, becoming as quintessential to American culture as hot dogs and apple pie.
    Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
  • Symptoms can include a rash and flu-like symptoms, with some people going on to experience arthritis, facial palsy, pain, irregular heartbeats and other worsening symptoms.
    Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • And then Paul Harris (who assists Bottas across F1 weekends), who also stayed in the AirBnB in the room next door, is calling me.
    Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • In addition, the money will go towards the Basic Needs Resource Center on campus which assists students facing food insecurity, housing instability and other similar challenges.
    Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • My work is driven by a fascination with atmosphere, emotion, and the quiet beauty hidden in everyday life—the kind of moments most people pass by without noticing.
    CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 May 2026
  • Obsession has more than its share of shocking moments, with one sudden, brutally violent attack coming so out of nowhere that you’re left reeling.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • Furthermore, the work aids nuclear forensics by establishing a mineral fingerprint to reconstruct the specific temperatures and pressures of past or unidentified nuclear events.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 May 2026
  • The addition of spoken word passages by local Geordie poet Cooper Robson, who drifts through balladic descriptions of community, working-class masculinity, and pickled onions, aids Knats in their explorations of their hometown.
    Archie Forde, Pitchfork, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • When the Moon enters Taurus, stillness helps the truth feel safe enough to trust.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
  • There’s a world where that actually helps reduce pressure and expectations on the filmmakers, which is often the challenge with indies.
    Matt Donnelly, Variety, 13 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Seconds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/seconds. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

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