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
• Rolling Stone once named him the second-best cast member of all time.
  — Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 9 July 2026
• 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
• And the second-best speech will come from best man Jason Kelce.
  — Hannah Vanbiber, New York Times, 2 July 2026
• 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
• Their second-best starter, Trevor Rogers takes today's start.
  — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
• 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

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
• That's the second best-performing sector of the year behind energy, which has soared 34%.
  — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026
• 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 2023, Florida slipped to second best, partly due to high health care costs, behind Virginia.
  — Medora Lee, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
• 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