second best

noun

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

second-best

adjective

1. next to the best
2. come off second best informal.
   come off second best to be defeated in competition

noun

1. an inferior alternative

Other Words From

• second-best adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of second best¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Idioms and Phrases

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 .

Example Sentences

Thus, abortion is another gender gap issue where men and the GOP come out second-best.

From The Daily Beast

With Sanders, Indianapolis had the second-best run defense in the playoffs.

From The Daily Beast

It was a second-best alternative to just counting some of the votes, one which he offered when it looked like he might be losing.

From The Daily Beast

So he wanted to at least explore the second-best option for getting justice for his client, a civil settlement.

From The Daily Beast

Nevertheless, it was the best year since 2006, and 2010 was the second-best year, with employers adding 940,000 jobs.

From The Daily Beast

Poor Johann George came out of it in that way; not second-best, think several.

From Project Gutenberg

She was in sober, every-day serge now, and pulling on her second-best cloak.

From Project Gutenberg

If he came off second-best a dozen times, he went confidently into the thirteenth trial, brave as Bruce, and equally successful.

From Project Gutenberg

You've always come off second-best with Hermansen—and now he's snapped up Mrs. Rantzau under your nose.

From Project Gutenberg

That was his own plan; and, though second-best, that also would have done well, had there been no third.

From Project Gutenberg