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• second best
  second best

  noun

  the next to the best in performance, achievement, craftsmanship, etc.
• second-best
  second-best

  adjective

  next to the best

second best

American  

noun

1. the next to the best in performance, achievement, craftsmanship, etc.

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second-best British  

adjective

1. next to the best

2. informal to be defeated in competition

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noun

1. an inferior alternative

second best Idioms  

1. Also, second class. Next after the first in rank or quality, inferior to the best, as in We aren't satisfied with being second best in sales, or This hotel is obviously second class. The first term dates from the first half of the 1400s, the variant from about 1800. Also see come off, def. 2; second class.

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Other Word Forms

• second-best
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of second best

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

second best second-best

“Chad, the best time to have dropped out would have been a couple of weeks ago, but the second best time is right now.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026

Ulster came out second best but there were fleeting positives, from Timoney's blistering start to a superb individual finish from the returning Robert Baloucoune.

From BBC ● May 22, 2026

South Korean stocks just registered their second best month ever and has overtaken one of the largest stock markets in the world.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 2026

Liverpool were second best by some distance against the European champions, who enjoyed 74% possession on Wednesday, despite Slot's team setting up in survival mode.

From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026

Well, he was the best so...the second best.

From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds

Has their second-best World Cup ever been under-appreciated?

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

Global equity fundraising topped $729.4 billion in the first half of 2026, boosted by SpaceX’s record IPO, marking the second-best start to the year on record, according to Mergermarket data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

Over the past year, XLE has been the second-best performing sector, rallying 45% and trailing only technology.

From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026

The Royce Small-Cap Fund was the second-best performer on the list for one year, trailing only the Royce Micro-Cap Trust.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 4, 2026

He could not think of an argument against it; after all, McLaggen had certainly performed second-best in the trials.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling