Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

second best

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.42 in modern English

Syllables: sec-ond best
IPA

15

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Inferior to the best (but better than other alternatives).

adj

Characterized by one or more optimality conditions not being satisfiable.

noun

Something (or someone) that is inferior to the best (but better than other alternatives).

noun

A situation where one or more optimality conditions cannot be satisfied.

Example Sentences

"I had to make do with a second-best alternative."
"And so makeshift and second-best have continued."
"If I made you feel second best / Well I'm sorry I was blind"

Inflected Forms

second-best (alternative) second bests (plural)

Phrases

come off second best third best first loser

Frequently Paired Words

come off second best third best first loser

Synonyms

runner-up

Questions

What does second best mean?: Inferior to the best (but better than other alternatives).

How to pronounce second best

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “second best”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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