1
a
: next to the first in place or time
was second in line
b(1)
: next to the first in value, excellence, or degree
his second choice of schools
(2)
: inferior, subordinate
was second to none
c
: ranking next below the top of a grade or degree in authority or precedence
second mate
e
: resembling or suggesting a prototype : another
a second Thoreau
f
: being the forward gear or speed next higher than first in a motor vehicle
2
: relating to or having a part typically subordinate to and lower in pitch than the first part in concerted or ensemble music
1
a
: one that is number two in a series see Table of Numbers
b
: one that is next after the first in rank, position, authority, or precedence
the second in line
2
: one that assists or supports another
especially
: the assistant of a duelist or boxer
3
a
: the musical interval embracing two diatonic degrees
b
: a tone at this interval
specifically
: supertonic
c
: the harmonic combination of two tones a second apart
4
a
seconds plural
: merchandise that is usually slightly flawed and does not meet the manufacturer's standard for firsts or irregulars
b
: an article of such merchandise
5
: the act or declaration by which a parliamentary motion is seconded
6
: a place next below the first in a competition, examination, or contest
7
8
: the second forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle
9
seconds plural
: a second helping of food
1
: in the second place : secondly
These two kinds of image … have a powerful appeal for us, first, because we are all … inevitably concerned about our fate, and second, because our concern is itself twofold …—
Robert Penn Warren
Robert Penn Warren2
: before all others with one exception
the nation's second largest city
They are my second favorite band.
1
a
: the 60th part of a minute of angular measure
b
: the 60th part of a minute of time : 1/86,400 part of the mean solar day
specifically
: the base unit of time in the International System of Units that is equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium-133 atom
2
: an instant of time : moment
seconded; seconding; seconds
1
a
: to give support or encouragement to : assist
b
: to support (a fighting person or group) in combat : bring up reinforcements for
2
a
: to support or assist in contention or debate
b
: to endorse (a motion or a nomination) so that debate or voting may begin
3
si-ˈkänd 
chiefly British
: to release (someone, such as a military officer) from a regularly assigned position for temporary duty with another unit or organization
chiefly British
: to release (someone, such as a military officer) from a regularly assigned position for temporary duty with another unit or organization
seconder
noun
Synonyms
Examples of second in a Sentence
Adjective
We sat in the second row.
the second house on the left
B is the second letter in the alphabet.
That's the second time I've seen him today.
Chocolate is my first choice; vanilla is my second choice.
The chair needs a second coat of paint.
She plays second violin in the city orchestra.
Verb
I would like to second the motion to adjourn.
“Let's call it a day.” “I'll second that.”
Recent Examples on the WebBrandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
But the first season set the bar impossibly high for the second, and the new season can’t come close to clearing it.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024
The fist-sized fossils are second only in girth and width to those of Tintanoboa, another giant snake estimated to have lived about 58 million years ago in what is now present-day Colombia.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 18 Apr. 2024
Ellard's sentence was overturned in 2003, and the second trial resulted in a hung jury and mistrial in 2004.
—USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Her first conviction was overturned on appeal, leading to a second trial that ended in a mistrial in 2004 due to a hung jury.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
The second time, LA County Probation canceled the interview after ABC News was setting up for the interview, citing the chief had a COVID-19 infection.
—Linsey Davis, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2024
Ece Yavuz Adapting an Ibsen Play For the second time, the playwright Amy Herzog, 45, has adapted a work by Henrik Ibsen.
—Laura May Todd, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Lionel Messi, playing his first game in nearly a month, showed no signs of rust, scoring an equalizing goal for Inter Miami 13 minutes after entering the game in the second half against the Colorado Rapids Saturday night.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024
On the Heat’s next possession — Miamis’ most important possession of the night — Herro’s three-point shot was blocked by Batum with 26.2 seconds remaining.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Sweetgreen has an app that instructs employees exactly how to heat and prepare food, and McDonald’s cooks beef patties for precisely 42 seconds.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
About 30 seconds later, the suspect’s vehicle broadsided a Nissan Altima traveling east on Surfrider Way, according to the sergeant, who said alcohol and speed were considered to be factors in the collision.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
If an injured player stays on the ground for longer than 15 seconds, the referee will bring on the team’s medical staff.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2024
Schwartz, the defense attorney, argued the entire incident lasted less than two seconds, too short of a window for Gonzalez to form the intent required to validate a murder charge.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
She’s poised for 30 seconds, ethereal in her Dior column dress, thanking the right people, her family, her boyfriend Kristian Rasmussen, the creatives on The Crown.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
Avoid four simple mistakes to make the most of Monday’s solar eclipse
For 4 minutes and 28 seconds on Monday, day will become night for 31.5 million people.
—Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 18 Apr. 2024
And second, whether you’re headed to the pyramids, climbing Mount Sinai, or taking the metro to avoid Cairo traffic, comfortable, close-toed shoes are also essential.
—Isis Briones, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2024
Regional banks were second with the best rates in shorter maturities (three months to one year), but community banks ranked second for two-, three- and five-year CDs.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Bubba Wallace is roughly a second back, running second.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2024
The Boilermakers rank second nationally in 3-point accuracy at 40.8 percent and hit that number Saturday, making 10 of 25 beyond the arc.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
Los Angeles and Long Beach in California rank first and second, respectively, followed by the joint ports of New York and New Jersey.
—The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Last season, Miami outscored teams by 69 points in 214 clutch minutes, second best behind Philadelphia (plus-75).
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
The world’s second largest economy is plagued by a myriad of problems.
—Laura He, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
David Jackson, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Rusu seconds the endorsement and has found that this particular vinegar does a better job than other acids in activating dry leavening agents.
—Charlotte Druckman, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024
Council President Paul Krekorian and Councilmember Traci Park seconded the motion.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
David seconded that, citing as an example a recent seat-making operation in Mesa by Hyundai Transys.
—The Arizona Republic, 25 Jan. 2024
Kinsey, who played Angela, enthusiastically seconded the notion.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2024
Hutt’s motion, which was seconded by Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, came in the wake of extensive damage to the 6th Street Viaduct, which is in De León’s district, after thieves stole a third of the structure’s copper wires.
—Angie Orellana Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2024
These poles are not fancy or flashy, but will get the job done with your best snowshoes or skis, and can second as a pair of hiking poles.
—Lindsey Lapointe, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024
In a statement, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan seconded those concerns.
—Scott Dance The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 6 Feb. 2024
Adjective
To the extent that the 13-hour day was structured, it was broken roughly in two: the first half dedicated to the issue of encroaching federal power and the second to election denial and conspiracy theories.
—Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024
But the first season set the bar impossibly high for the second, and the new season can’t come close to clearing it.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024
The fist-sized fossils are second only in girth and width to those of Tintanoboa, another giant snake estimated to have lived about 58 million years ago in what is now present-day Colombia.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 18 Apr. 2024
Ellard's sentence was overturned in 2003, and the second trial resulted in a hung jury and mistrial in 2004.
—USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Her first conviction was overturned on appeal, leading to a second trial that ended in a mistrial in 2004 due to a hung jury.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
The second time, LA County Probation canceled the interview after ABC News was setting up for the interview, citing the chief had a COVID-19 infection.
—Linsey Davis, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2024
Ece Yavuz Adapting an Ibsen Play For the second time, the playwright Amy Herzog, 45, has adapted a work by Henrik Ibsen.
—Laura May Todd, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Lionel Messi, playing his first game in nearly a month, showed no signs of rust, scoring an equalizing goal for Inter Miami 13 minutes after entering the game in the second half against the Colorado Rapids Saturday night.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
Noun
Gunning is also thrilling to watch as Martha, whose moods swing wildly from one second to the next, and who is obviously navigating a world and experience no one can see but her.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Apr. 2024
On the Heat’s next possession — Miamis’ most important possession of the night — Herro’s three-point shot was blocked by Batum with 26.2 seconds remaining.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Sweetgreen has an app that instructs employees exactly how to heat and prepare food, and McDonald’s cooks beef patties for precisely 42 seconds.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
About 30 seconds later, the suspect’s vehicle broadsided a Nissan Altima traveling east on Surfrider Way, according to the sergeant, who said alcohol and speed were considered to be factors in the collision.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
If an injured player stays on the ground for longer than 15 seconds, the referee will bring on the team’s medical staff.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2024
Schwartz, the defense attorney, argued the entire incident lasted less than two seconds, too short of a window for Gonzalez to form the intent required to validate a murder charge.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
She’s poised for 30 seconds, ethereal in her Dior column dress, thanking the right people, her family, her boyfriend Kristian Rasmussen, the creatives on The Crown.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
Avoid four simple mistakes to make the most of Monday’s solar eclipse
For 4 minutes and 28 seconds on Monday, day will become night for 31.5 million people.
—Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Adverb
Pinch-runner Jo Adell then stole third, with Neto stealing second a pitch later.
—Jeff Fletcher, Orange County Register, 18 Apr. 2024
And second, whether you’re headed to the pyramids, climbing Mount Sinai, or taking the metro to avoid Cairo traffic, comfortable, close-toed shoes are also essential.
—Isis Briones, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2024
Regional banks were second with the best rates in shorter maturities (three months to one year), but community banks ranked second for two-, three- and five-year CDs.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Bubba Wallace is roughly a second back, running second.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2024
The Boilermakers rank second nationally in 3-point accuracy at 40.8 percent and hit that number Saturday, making 10 of 25 beyond the arc.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
Los Angeles and Long Beach in California rank first and second, respectively, followed by the joint ports of New York and New Jersey.
—The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Last season, Miami outscored teams by 69 points in 214 clutch minutes, second best behind Philadelphia (plus-75).
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
The world’s second largest economy is plagued by a myriad of problems.
—Laura He, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
Trump sparks widespread backlash with NATO attack Hours before Trump took the stage in North Charleston, former President Barack Obama seconded Biden in saying Trump's attitude is reckless and provocative.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Rusu seconds the endorsement and has found that this particular vinegar does a better job than other acids in activating dry leavening agents.
—Charlotte Druckman, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024
Council President Paul Krekorian and Councilmember Traci Park seconded the motion.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
David seconded that, citing as an example a recent seat-making operation in Mesa by Hyundai Transys.
—The Arizona Republic, 25 Jan. 2024
Kinsey, who played Angela, enthusiastically seconded the notion.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2024
Hutt’s motion, which was seconded by Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, came in the wake of extensive damage to the 6th Street Viaduct, which is in De León’s district, after thieves stole a third of the structure’s copper wires.
—Angie Orellana Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2024
These poles are not fancy or flashy, but will get the job done with your best snowshoes or skis, and can second as a pair of hiking poles.
—Lindsey Lapointe, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024
In a statement, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan seconded those concerns.
—Scott Dance The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 6 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'second.' 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
Cite this Entry
“Second.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
1
: being number two in a series see number
2
a
: next to the first in time, order, importance, or rank
second violin
second place
b
: other entry 1 sense 2
elects a mayor every second year
c
: resembling or suggesting an original : another
a second Shakespeare
second
adverb
secondly
adverb
second
2 of 4 noun1
a
: one that is number two in a series see number
b
: one next after the first in time, order, importance, or rank
2
: one who assists another (as in a duel or prizefight)
3
: the difference in pitch between the first tone and the second tone of a scale
4
: a damaged or imperfect article (as of merchandise)
5
: the act of seconding a motion
6
7
: the second gear or speed in an automobile
8
plural
: a second helping of food
second
3 of 4 noun1
a
: the 60th part of a minute of angular measure
b
: the 60th part of a minute of time
especially
: the international unit of time related to the period of the radiation corresponding to a change between the two levels of the ground state of a particular isotope of the cesium atom
2
: instant entry 1, moment
I'll be back in a second
second
4 of 4 verb1
: to give support or encouragement to : assist
2
: to encourage that something be debated or voted on
second a motion
seconder
noun
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English second "next to the first in position, order, or time," from early French secund (same meaning), from Latin secundus "second, following, favorable," from sequi "to follow" — related to sequel
Noun
Middle English secounde "the 60th part of a minute," from Latin secunda (same meaning), derived from earlier secundus (adjective) "second (in order), following, favorable"; so called from the fact that the minute is the first level of division of a degree or hour and this is the second level
Verb
from Latin secundare "to give support to, assist," from secundus (adjective) "second, following, favorable"
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