second

The word “second” means coming after the first in order, position, or importance. In plain terms, number two in order, a tiny unit of time, or formally backing someone else's proposal.

“Second” is pronounced SEHK-uhnd (/ˈsɛk.ənd/ in IPA).

Here is “second” used in a sentence: “She finished second in the marathon.”

Words with a similar meaning to “second” include other.

Depending on how it is used, “second” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.

The word “second” comes from Latin. From Old French "second," from Latin "secundus" ("following, next"), related to "sequor" ("to follow").

“Second” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Second” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: coming after the first in order, position, or importance.

As an adjective, 'second' means coming after the first, as in 'the second time.' As a noun it has two uses: a unit of time equal to one-sixtieth of a minute, and a person who comes second in a contest. The ordinal adjective is the one about order or rank.

'Second' is the ordinal number following 'first,' and it is itself followed by 'third.' The sequence runs first, second, third, fourth, and so on. These ordinals show position in a series, unlike the counting numbers one, two, three, which show quantity instead.

Beyond simple order, 'second' appears in many expressions. 'Second nature' means something done so easily it feels automatic. 'Second thoughts' are doubts on reconsidering. 'Second-hand' means previously owned. 'Second to none' means the best. In each, the word carries a sense of following or being additional to a first.

'She finished in second place,' 'take the second turning on the left,' and 'this is my second attempt' all use the adjective. It marks position in a sequence — after the first — whether in a race, a set of directions, a list, or a ranking of importance.