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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

Being second best has been a theme this season, too, with Andy Farrell's Ireland and Ulster also the best of the rest in the other competitions.

From BBC ● May 23, 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

"They are not playing well and they do look disjointed. They gave up chances today and they were second best in the first half."

From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2026

Poppy had always been the leader, the more popular one, the one adults trusted more, and Seven was always second best.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

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

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 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 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

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

From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026

Her second-best friend, first here in the shtetl, in the dream.

From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen