: 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
Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 24 May 2024
The Heat allowed just 109.3 points per 100 possessions with Adebayo on the court this regular season, a defensive rating that would have ranked second-best among NBA teams.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 21 May 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
See all Example Sentences for second-best 
Adjective
Menlo School’s Summer Young, daughter of former 49ers quarterback Steve Young, will try to medal in the high jump after going into the state meet with the second-best mark of 5-6.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 24 May 2024
The Heat allowed just 109.3 points per 100 possessions with Adebayo on the court this regular season, a defensive rating that would have ranked second-best among NBA teams.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 21 May 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
See all Example Sentences for second-best
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 6 Jun. 2024.
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