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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

He has 43 more than the second best, Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai.

From BBC ● May 23, 2026

They were second best but when you have Lawrence Shankland in your ranks, you have hope.

From BBC ● May 9, 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

“He’s not a stranger. He’s easily my second best friend.”

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

Carville, resigned to the idea getting a ticket was out of the question, had taken his family to do "the second-best thing" - "to go down town and soak up some of the atmosphere".

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

The Port of Los Angeles processed 890,861 container units in April, 5.7% above last year -- the second-best April on record despite war, higher fuel costs and trade uncertainty.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2026

The healthcare sector itself has also been resilient, ranking as the second-best performing S&P sector over the past week.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

The Fed was poised to take up an overhaul of its communications last year, an acknowledgment that the way it does it now is, at best, second-best.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

Viola came up later carrying a tray set with the second-best china as a peace offering for my banishment.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly