second-best
/'sekənd'best/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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
- in second place
- he came off second-best
Adjective
- next to the best
- his second-best bed