second only to

idiom

: only less important than (something or someone)
Rice is second only to corn as the state's major crop.

Examples of second only to in a Sentence

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There were 27 natural disasters that cost at least $1 billion nationwide in 2024, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, second only to the 28 recorded in 2023. J.j. McCorvey, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2025 His run grade from PFF was second only to Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, a likely top-10 pick. Matt Barrows, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025 The fire department is second only to the police department in its share of the city’s general purpose fund, which mostly pays worker salaries and other operating costs. Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2025 The devastation wrought by the Eaton Fire — which has so far burned through more than 14,000 acres — is second only to the massive Palisades Fire, the largest of four blazes still actively burning in the Los Angeles region. Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for second only to 

Dictionary Entries Near second only to

Cite this Entry

“Second only to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second%20only%20to. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

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