How to Use second-best in a Sentence

second-best

1 of 2 adjective
  • Not bad for the star of the team with the second-best record in the league.
    — Zach Harper, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
  • The best time to win is now, and the second-best time to win is next year.
    — Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 19 July 2024
  • If that is not available, donor breast milk is the second-best choice.
    — Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The team with the second-best record would play the team with the second-worst record.
    — Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 20 May 2025
  • Friday’s gain puts the stock on pace for its second-best day ever.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 29 May 2026
  • The second-best thing was hearing the click of the handcuffs.
    — Jim Axelrod, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2024
  • Lake’s time in the 100 is the second-best time in the state this spring.
    — The Indianapolis Star, 8 May 2023
  • Friday's gain puts the stock on pace for its second-best day ever.
    — Sean Conlon,lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 28 May 2026
  • Braun has also blocked 19 shots, the second-best mark on the team.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024
  • But who is the second-best team in the AFC right now?
    — Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Was the second Anne the second-best Anne?
    — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Bell had the second-best car yesterday.
    — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 June 2026
  • Leeds were second-best in every regard.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
  • On the pitch, Ecuador have been the second-best team on their continent.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • But there’s no debate about the second-best tackle in the game, either.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024
  • The Padres have the second-best record in baseball and have won six straight series.
    — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Sheppard has been on fire as of late, and that's thrust him into the second-best betting odds.
    — Zach Harper, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
  • But if the best time to have planted a tree was a hundred years ago, the second-best time is today.
    — Ed Hirs, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • There’s no world in which the second-best defensive unit shouldn’t have a player in the mix for awards.
    — Shane Young, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • That outburst puts him on pace for 65, which would be the second-best mark of his career.
    — Sean Gentille, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Norris’ time in the 200 is the second-best in the state this season.
    — Kyle Neddenriep, The Indianapolis Star, 15 May 2023
  • The state is currently ranked as the second-best state for business in the nation.
    — Michael Gill, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2024
  • The result was the show’s second-best IMDb score of any episode.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2026
  • The Nuggets woke up Thursday with the second-best record in the West.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
  • So, the second-best Idea is to slow the ships down, from about 18 mph to 12 mph.
    — David Pogue, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2024
  • So, in your opinion, what is the second-best pizza place in Charlotte?
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Jan. 2026
  • But the Bruins couldn’t keep the second-best scoring team in the nation down all night.
    — Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2023
  • Block was left with the second-best finish in history and the best in the last 30 years.
    — Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
  • So who is the second-best nickel corner on the 53-man roster?
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Gotham has allowed only 17 goals all season, the second-best mark in the league.
    — Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025

second best

2 of 2 adverb
  • Pikulthong ofinished in third place and had the second best score on day two of the tourney.
    — Koki Riley, The Arizona Republic, 30 Oct. 2020
  • But entrepreneurs who are just getting into the game would do well to aim for second best.
    — Yec, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2021
  • Lucas Digne was a distant second best.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
  • The second best option is stems beneath flowers that have begun to drop their petals.
    — Benjamin Whitacre, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2022
  • The second best thing about this crust is how unbelievable the filling tastes with it.
    — Mehreen Karim, Bon Appétit, 20 July 2021
  • This is only the second best-of-seven playoff series where the road team has won the first five games.
    — Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2021
  • Parsons was ranked as the second best player at the position.
    — Dallas News, 7 July 2022
  • Stallings made 10 birdies en route to a 63, the second best round of the tournament.
    — Scott Bell, Dallas News, 15 May 2021
  • The winner from the second wild card matchup will play the division winners with the second best record.
    — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 27 Aug. 2022
  • Bill Belichick is arguably the second best receiver on the team.
    — Andy Nesbitt, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2020
  • The race for second best in District 6-6A is tight, and both these teams are in the thick of it.
    — Joseph Hoyt, Dallas News, 18 Nov. 2020
  • And Wii Fit, which was never a top seller by year was the second best selling game of that decade.
    — Chris Morris, Fortune, 17 Jan. 2020
  • And for a city whose sports fans don't accept second best, Peres Jepchirchir came through with a memorable first.
    — CBS News, 7 Nov. 2021
  • Hesse’s score was his 41st of the season, the second best total in the state coming into the finals.
    — Lewis Bagley, The Courier-Journal, 31 Oct. 2020
  • Sure enough, the unit proved solid, holding the AHL’s second best power play to no shots.
    — Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2022
  • The restaurant is famed for its Peking duck, which is ranked the second best in the world, according to a travel magazine.
    — Ling Ma, The New Yorker, 4 July 2022
  • Spurs are third in the Premier League table after seven games and have the joint-second best defensive record.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The Atlanta Hawks have the league's second best offensive rating, thanks to Trae Young.
    — Matt Eppers, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2022
  • In 2019, Marriotts Ridge averaged just five goals against in county games — second best in the league.
    — Brent Kennedy, baltimoresun.com, 4 May 2021
  • Vissering was the second best 400-meter runner in the county and in Class 3A this spring.
    — Jacob Calvin Meyer, baltimoresun.com, 23 July 2021
  • In three meetings with the East Yorkshire club this season, Phil Parkinson’s side have been distinctly second best.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Instead, the Suns have the second best record in the Western Conference (24-11).
    — Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2021
  • Materials is the second best-performing S & P 500 sector this year, up more than 14%.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Indiana has outscored teams by 237 points in the first half of games this season (second best nationally behind Texas Tech's 256).
    — CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
  • The second best-selling style from the online outlet, the Michael Kors Jet Set Crossbody Bag is beloved by shoppers for its versatility, classic style, simple silhouette, and spacious interior.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Mar. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'second-best.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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