second

Fetched 2026-10-27 (cache).

Synonyms: secund, recond, secord, secon, scond

Antonyms: secund, recond, secord, secon, scond

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Adjective

1. Number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them. The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two.
   • He lives on Second Street.
   • The second volume in "The Lord of the Rings" series is called "The Two Towers".
   • He became the second player to hit 50000 runs for his county.
   • You take the first one, and I'll have the second.
2. Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.
   • His job is second priority, because his family is the most important thing in his life.
3. Being of the same kind as one that has preceded; another.
   • Residents of Texas prepared for Hurricane Harvey, which would in some ways turn out to become the second Hurricane Katrina.

Adverb

1. After the first; at the second rank.
   • Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system.
2. After the first occurrence but before the third.
   • He is batting second today.

Noun

1. Something that is number two in a series.
2. Something that is next in rank, quality, precedence, position, status, or authority.
3. The place that is next below or after first in a race or contest.
4. A manufactured item that, though still usable, fails to meet quality control standards.
   • They were discounted because they contained blemishes, nicks or were otherwise factory seconds.
5. An additional helping of food.
   • That was good barbecue. I hope I can get seconds.
6. A chance or attempt to achieve what should have been done the first time, usually indicating success this time around. (See second-guess.)
7. 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).
8. The second gear of an engine.
9. Second base.
10. 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.
11. A Cub Scout appointed to assist a sixer.
12. A second-class honours degree.

Verb

1. (Should we move, merge or split this sense?) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (See etymology 3 for translations.)
   • I second the motion.
2. To follow in the next place; to succeed.
3. To climb after a lead climber.

Noun

1. 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.
2. A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a minute of arc or one part in 3600 of a degree.
3. A short, indeterminate amount of time.
   • I'll be there in a second.

Verb

1. To transfer temporarily to alternative employment.
   • The army officer was seconded while he held civil office.
2. To assist or support; to back.
3. (Should we move, merge or split this sense?) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (This may come from etymology 1 above.)
   • I second the motion.
4. To accompany by singing as the second performer.

Noun

1. One who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant.
2. One who supports or seconds a motion, or the act itself, as required in certain meetings to pass judgement etc.
   • If we want the motion to pass, we will need a second.
3. Aid; assistance; help.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wiktionary) · cached copy, not a rewrite.