Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Next in quality or excellence after the best: Used to describe something that is of high quality but not the highest possible.
   • Inferior to the best: Can imply a position of being the runner-up or not the top choice.

2. Adverb:

   • In second place: Used to describe the manner of finishing or being ranked.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • She wore her second-best dress to the party. (This was her nicest dress after her very best one.)
  • He settled for a second-best solution when the ideal one wasn't available.
• Adverb:
  • The team finished second-best in the championship. (They were the runners-up.)
  • In the debate, he came off second-best. (He was defeated or outperformed.)

Advanced Usage

• "to come off second-best": To be defeated or to be the loser in a competition or conflict.
  • Despite his efforts, he always seemed to come off second-best against his rival.
• Used to express compromise or accepting an alternative that is not the primary choice.
  • We had to make a second-best choice due to budget constraints.

Variants and Related Words

• Second best (noun phrase): The thing that is next to the best.
  • Don't settle for second best; aim for the top.
• Second-rate: Of inferior quality (often more negative than 'second-best').

Synonyms

• Adjective: Runner-up, secondary, next best, inferior.
• Adverb: Secondly, as a runner-up.

Related Phrases

• Second-best option: An alternative that is not the most preferred.
  • Taking the bus was our second-best option after the car broke down.

Related Idioms

• "Second best is not good enough": A saying emphasizing the desire to be the very best, not just nearly the best.
• "To play second best": To be in a subordinate or less important role.
  • She refused to play second best in the company and started her own business.

Adverb

1. in second place
   • he came off second-best

Adjective

1. next to the best
   • his second-best bed