What does “second” mean?
- 1
numbercoming after the first one in order
She finished second in the race.
- 2
nounone sixtieth of a minute, or a very short time
Wait a second, I’m coming.
- 3
adverbused to introduce the next point in a list
First, it’s too expensive; second, it’s too far.
Second at a glance
- Part of speech
- number, noun & adverb
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /ˈsɛkənd/ · SEK-und
How to use “second” correctly
“Just a second” is a polite way to ask someone to wait. In the US, the “second floor” is one floor above the ground floor.
Common phrases with “second”
- second chance
- second hand
- for a second
- second floor
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Word family
- secondly
- secondary
Idioms with “second”
- Get a second wind: Suddenly feel new energy to continue after being tired.
“second” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- first adjectiveA1coming before all others in time, order or importance
- half nounA1one of two equal parts of something
- long adjectiveA1measuring a great distance from one end to the other
- eight numberA1the number 8
- five numberA1the number 5
- four numberA1the number 4
- hundred numberA1the number 100
- million numberA1the number 1,000,000