second

Coming immediately after the first person or thing in an order.

• This is my second visit.
• She finished in second place.
• Did you read the second chapter?

Common phrases: second place, second floor, second attempt

Less important or powerful than the person or thing ranked first.

• Work takes second place in his life.
• Safety must never be a second priority.
• He accepted a second role in the team.

How to use it: second to someone/something (For her, work is second to family.)

Similar words: secondary, subordinate

Opposites: primary

Common phrases: second priority, second choice, second place

Another person or thing similar to a particular earlier one.

• They called her a second Mozart.
• The accident threatened to become a second disaster of the same kind.
• His fans hoped he would be a second Shakespeare.

Similar words: another

Common phrases: a second someone, a second disaster

In the position immediately below the highest or best.

• This tree is second tallest.
• Our team ranked second in the league.
• She is the second fastest runner in her class.

Common phrases: second largest, second best, rank second

After one person, action, or event and before the third.

• You can go second.
• She spoke second at the meeting.
• First, wash the rice; second, add water.

Similar words: secondly

Common phrases: go second, speak second, bat second

A very short unit of time; sixty of these make one minute.

• Wait one second.
• The race lasted forty seconds.
• How many seconds are left on the timer?

Common phrases: one second, ten seconds, wait a second, per second

A product sold more cheaply because small faults make it less than perfect.

• This plate is a factory second.
• The shop sells seconds at lower prices.
• She bought some seconds with tiny marks on the edges.

Common phrases: factory second, buy a second

To officially support another person’s proposal so that a group can discuss or vote on it.

• I second the proposal.
• Another member seconded her nomination.
• Will anyone second this motion?

Similar words: support, back

Opposites: oppose

Common phrases: second a motion, second a nomination, second a proposal, second a resolution