second
SEHK-uhnd
Second (adjective) means coming after the first in order, position, or importance. Example: “She finished second in the marathon.”
adjective
1
Coming after the first in order, position, or importance.
"She finished second in the marathon."
"This is his second attempt at passing the exam."
"Take the second turning on the left and stop by the bakery."
noun
1
A unit of time equal to one sixtieth of a minute.
"The microwave beeped after ninety seconds, and the soup was ready."
"The race was decided by less than a second."
"Wait a second, I need to grab my keys."
verb
1
To formally support a motion or proposal so that it can be voted on.
"I move that we adjourn — do I have someone to second the motion?"
"Several members seconded the proposal, so the committee voted on it straight away."
"Nobody seconded his suggestion, so it was dropped from the meeting."
How to use second
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNumber two in order, a tiny unit of time, or formally backing someone else's proposal.
Common pairings
second place
a split second
second the motion
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Word forms
- Plural
- seconds
- Third person singular
- seconds
- Past tense
- seconded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She finished _____ in the marathon.
Etymology
From Old French "second," from Latin "secundus" ("following, next"), related to "sequor" ("to follow").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for second
See all rhymes for second →Frequently asked questions
What does “second” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “second”?
“Second” is pronounced SEHK-uhnd (/ˈsɛk.ənd/ in IPA).
How do you use “second” in a sentence?
Here is “second” used in a sentence: “She finished second in the marathon.”
What is another word for “second”?
Words with a similar meaning to “second” include other.
What part of speech is “second”?
Depending on how it is used, “second” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “second” come from?
The word “second” comes from Latin. From Old French "second," from Latin "secundus" ("following, next"), related to "sequor" ("to follow").
Is “second” a common word?
“Second” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “second” have?
“Second” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: coming after the first in order, position, or importance.
What is the difference between second as an adjective and second as a noun?
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.
What comes after second?
'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.
What does 'second' mean in phrases like 'second nature'?
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.
What is an example of 'second' as an adjective?
'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.
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