second

noun

Something that is number two in a series.

Something that is next in rank, quality, precedence, position, status, or authority.

A chance or attempt to achieve what should have been done the first time, usually indicating success this time around. (See second-guess.)

A unit of time historically and commonly defined as a sixtieth of a minute which the International System of Units more precisely defines as the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of radiation corresponding to the transition between two hyperfine levels of caesium-133 in a ground state at a temperature of absolute zero and at rest.

(informal) A short, indeterminate amount of time.

(usually in the plural) A manufactured item that, though still usable, fails to meet quality control standards.

(usually in the plural) An additional helping of food.

The second gear of an engine.

(baseball) Second base.

The agent of a party to an honour dispute whose role was to try to resolve the dispute or to make the necessary arrangements for a duel.

One who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant.

One who supports or seconds a motion, or the act itself, as required in certain meetings to pass judgement etc.

(music) The interval between two adjacent notes in a diatonic scale (either or both of them may be raised or lowered from the basic scale via any type of accidental).

A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a minute of arc or one part in 3600 of a degree.

(informal) A second-class honours degree.

A Cub Scout appointed to assist the sixer.

The place that is next below or after first in a race or contest.

(obsolete) Aid; assistance; help.

verb

(transitive) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (See etymology 3 for translations.)

(transitive) To assist or support; to back.

(climbing) To climb after a lead climber.

(transitive, UK) To transfer temporarily to alternative employment.

To follow in the next place; to succeed.

(transitive) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (This may come from etymology 1 above.)

(transitive, music) To accompany by singing as the second performer.

adjective

Number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them. The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two.

Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.

Being of the same kind as one that has preceded; another.

adverb

After the first occurrence but before the third.

(with superlative) After the first; at the second rank.

Roots

sequorsecond- · Latin · follow

Synonyms for second

thirdn secondlyadv fourthadj fifthadj sixthadj seventhadj minuten momentn anotheradj nextadj

Synonyms & related words for second

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of second — including third, secondly, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to second

Explore words related to second — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include first, eighth, thirdly, secondment, ninth, tenth, lattermost, fourthly. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for second

Common synonyms for second include third, secondly, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, minute, moment — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does second come from?

The word second breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root second-, from Latin sequor (“follow”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.