second

[ sek-uhnd ]

/ ˈsɛk ənd /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: second / seconded / seconds / seconder on Thesaurus.com

adjective

next after the first; being the ordinal number for two.

being the latter of two equal parts.

next after the first in place, time, or value: the second house from the corner.

next after the first in rank, grade, degree, status, or importance: the second person in the company.

alternate; other: I have my hair cut every second week.

inferior or subordinate; secondary.

Grammar. noting or pertaining to the second person.

Music. being the lower of two parts for the same instrument or voice: second horn; second alto.

other or another: a second Solomon.

Automotive. of, relating to, or operating at the gear transmission ratio at which drive shaft speed is greater than that of low gear but not so great as that of other gears for a given engine crankshaft speed: second gear.

noun

a second part.

the second member of a series.

a person who aids or supports another; assistant; backer.

Boxing. a person who, between rounds of a prizefight, gives aid, advice, etc., to a boxer.

a person who serves as a representative or attendant of a duelist.

Automotive. second gear.

a person or thing that is next after the first in place, time, or value.

a person or thing that is next after the first in rank, grade, degree, status, or importance.

Usually seconds. an additional helping of food: He had seconds on the meat and potatoes.

(in parliamentary procedure)

a person who expresses formal support of a motion so that it may be discussed or put to a vote.
an act or instance of doing this.

(in certain British universities) a type or grade of college degree granted according to a student's performance on specific written and oral examinations.

Music.

a tone on the next degree from a given tone.
the interval between such tones.
the harmonic combination of such tones.
the lower of two parts in a piece of concerted music.
a voice or instrument performing such a part.
an alto.

Usually seconds .Commerce. goods below the first or highest quality, especially containing visible flaws.Compare first (def. 17), third (def. 12).

Metallurgy. a piece of somewhat defective but salable tin plate.

Baseball. second base.

verb (used with object)

to assist or support.

to further or advance, as aims.

(in parliamentary procedure) to express formal support of (a motion, proposal, etc.), as a necessary preliminary to further discussion or to voting.

to act as second to (a boxer, duelist, etc.).

adverb

in the second place, group, etc.; secondly: The catcher is batting second.

OTHER WORDS FOR second

13 aide, helper, agent, deputy.

See synonyms for second on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of second

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English second, secound(e) (adjective, noun, and adverb), from Old French secunt, secun, second (adjective), from Latin secundus “following, next, second,” equivalent to sec- (base of sequī “to follow”) + -undus verbal adjective suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM second

sec·ond·er, noun

Words nearby second

secluded, seclusion, seclusive, secobarbital, Seconal, second, Second Advent, Second Adventist, Second Amendment, secondary, secondary accent

Other definitions for second (2 of 3)

second²

[ sek-uhnd ]

/ ˈsɛk ənd /

noun

the sixtieth part of a minute of time.

a moment or instant: It takes only a second to phone.

the basic unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 cycles of radiation in a transition, or energy level change, of the cesium atom. Abbreviation: sec; Symbol: s, S

Geometry, Astronomy. the sixtieth part of a minute of angular measure, often represented by the sign ″, as in 30″, which is read as 30 seconds.Compare angle¹ (def. 1c).

OTHER WORDS FOR second

2 jiffy, trice, wink, flash.

See synonyms for second on Thesaurus.com

Origin of second

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English seconde, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin secunda (minūta) “second (minute),” feminine of secundus “following, next”; see second¹

Other definitions for second (3 of 3)

second³

[ si-kond ]

/ sɪˈkɒnd /

verb (used with object)

to transfer (a military officer, official, or employee) to another organization for temporary duty: Called up in 1941, he served in the Army until 1942, when he was seconded to Naval Intelligence at Bletchley.

Origin of second

First recorded in 1795–1805; from French second, noun use of the adjective in the phrase en second, as in lieutenant en second “second lieutenant”; see second¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use second in a sentence

Between April and July 2020, the city issued at least 168 citations, but the number appears to have dropped off in the second half of the year, not just for the city but for the county as a whole.
Despite Crackdown Announcement, Not Much COVID-19 Enforcement Is Happening|Jesse Marx|February 11, 2021|Voice of San Diego
Disney canceled its dividend in the second half of 2020 as its finances remained under pressure.
Disney took in nearly $5 billion less in revenue over the pandemic-riddled holidays|Steven Zeitchik|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
In last-second wins against Miami and Chicago, Brooks said, it was determination that pushed the Wizards to victory.
The Wizards’ defense again lets them down in loss at home to Raptors|Ava Wallace|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
The $99,900 GT model promises up to 522 horsepower with a 0-60 time just under four seconds.
Audi’s e-Tron GT charges up fast, but turns even faster|Stan Horaczek|February 10, 2021|Popular-Science

USDA Secretary of Agriculture nominee Tom Vilsack clears first hurdle, says he will focus on climate changeToubia says the company’s first products will reach the marketplace in the second half of 2022.
Raising the steaks: First 3-D-printed rib-eye is unveiled|Laura Reiley|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
Gunshots rang out in Paris this morning on a second day of deadly violence that has stunned the French capital.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And as he adjusted to this change in circumstances, he screamed at himself a second time: Wait!
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A second document was titled: “Gambia Reborn: A Charter for Transition from Dictatorship to Democracy and Development.”
The Shadowy U.S. Veteran Who Tried to Overthrow a Country|Jacob Siegel|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If 29 vote for someone else, the race for speaker goes to a second ballot for the first time in almost 100 years.
Kamikaze Congress Prepares to Strike Boehner|Ben Jacobs|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
At least 29 fellow Republicans must vote against Boehner for a second ballot to be reached, and that seems very unlikely.
The YOLO Caucus' New Cry for Attention|Ben Jacobs|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In treble, second and fourth, the first change is a dodge behind; and the second time the treble leads, there's a double Bob.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
On his head was the second-hand hat of some parvenu's coachman, gold lace, cockade and all.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
The beauty, the mystery,—this fierce sunshine or something—stir——' She hesitated for a fraction of a second.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
Roman Pane who accompanied Columbus on his second voyage alludes to another method of using the herb.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
He set down as the second the golden rule, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them.”
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for second (1 of 3)

second¹

/ (ˈsɛkənd) /

adjective (usually prenominal)

coming directly after the first in numbering or counting order, position, time, etc; being the ordinal number of two: often written 2nd
(as noun)the second in line

rated, graded, or ranked between the first and third levels

alternateevery second Thursday

additional; extraa second opportunity

resembling a person or event from an earlier period of history; unoriginala second Wagner

of lower quality; inferiorbelonging to the second class

denoting the lowest but one forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehicle

music

relating to or denoting a musical part, voice, or instrument lower in pitch than another part, voice, or instrument (the first)the second tenors
of or relating to a part, instrument, or instrumentalist regarded as subordinate to another (the first)the second flute

at second hand by hearsay

noun

British education an honours degree of the second class, usually further divided into an upper and lower designationFull term: second-class honours degree

the lowest but one forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehiclehe changed into second on the bend

(in boxing, duelling, etc) an attendant who looks after a competitor

a speech seconding a motion or the person making it

music

the interval between one note and another lying next above or below it in the diatonic scale
one of two notes constituting such an interval in relation to the otherSee also minor (def. 4), major (def. 14), interval (def. 5)

(plural) goods of inferior quality

(plural) informal a second helping of food

(plural) the second course of a meal

verb (tr)

to give aid or backing to

(in boxing, etc) to act as second to (a competitor)

to make a speech or otherwise express formal support for (a motion already proposed)

adverb

Also: secondly in the second place

sentence connector

Also: secondly as the second point: linking what follows with the previous statement

Derived forms of second

seconder, noun

Word Origin for second

C13: via Old French from Latin secundus coming next in order, from sequī to follow

British Dictionary definitions for second (2 of 3)

second²

/ (ˈsɛkənd) /

noun

1/60 of a minute of time
the basic SI unit of time: the duration of 9 192 631 770 periods of radiation corresponding to the transition between two hyperfine levels of the ground state of caesium-133Symbol: s

1/60 of a minute of angleSymbol: ″

a very short period of time; moment

Word Origin for second

C14: from Old French, from Medieval Latin pars minūta secunda the second small part (a minute being the first small part of an hour); see second 1

British Dictionary definitions for second (3 of 3)

second³

/ (sɪˈkɒnd) /

verb (tr) British

to transfer (an employee) temporarily to another branch, etc

military to transfer (an officer) to another post, often retiring him to a staff or nonregimental position

Word Origin for second

C19: from French en second in second rank (or position)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for second

second

[ sĕk′ənd ]

A unit of time equal to 160 of a minute.♦ A sidereal second is 160 of a sidereal minute, and a mean solar second is 160 of a mean solar minute. See more at sidereal time solar time.

A unit of angular measurement, such as longitude or right ascension, equal to 160 of a minute of arc.

Other Idioms and Phrases with second

second

In addition to the idioms beginning with second

second banana
second best
second childhood
second class
second cousin
second fiddle
second hand
second nature
second sight
second thoughts
second to none
second wind

also see:

at second hand
come off (second best)
in a flash (second)
in the first (second) place
on second thought
play second fiddle
split second
top (second) banana

second

OTHER WORDS FOR second

Origin of second

OTHER WORDS FROM second

Words nearby second

Other definitions for second (2 of 3)

OTHER WORDS FOR second

Origin of second

Other definitions for second (3 of 3)

Origin of second

Words related to second

How to use second in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for second (1 of 3)

Derived forms of second

Word Origin for second

British Dictionary definitions for second (2 of 3)

Word Origin for second

British Dictionary definitions for second (3 of 3)

Word Origin for second

Scientific definitions for second

Other Idioms and Phrases with second