Ordinal · Noun · Verb A2 — Elementary+ /ˈsek.ənd/

Second — Definition, Examples & Pronunciation

One word, four roles: position, time, support, and grade — all pronounced the same way.

Quick Definition — Four Senses

1.ordinalSecond — coming immediately after the first in order, position, or time. She finished in second place.

2.nounA very brief unit of time; one sixtieth of a minute. Also used informally to mean any very short moment. Wait just a second.

3.verbTo formally support a proposal or motion so that it may be discussed or voted upon. I second the motion.

4.nounIn the British university grading system, a degree classification below a first: a 2:1 (upper second) or 2:2 (lower second). She graduated with a second.

What Does Second Mean?

Second is one of the most versatile words in English. Its most common use is as an ordinal number — the one that comes after first. Because it is so frequent and its spelling is so irregular (compare two → second versus three → third), it is a word that learners need to know at an early stage.

As a noun for time, second sits between millisecond and minute in the hierarchy of time measurement. In everyday speech it is used loosely to mean any brief pause: "Give me a second" or "I'll be there in a second."

The verb use is largely formal or procedural — you will encounter it in meeting minutes, parliamentary debates, and academic committees. If you second a proposal, you are declaring that you support it enough for it to be debated, without necessarily agreeing with it yourself.

The university sense is specific to British and Irish English. A first (first-class degree) is the highest classification; a second (either upper or lower) comes next. Most competitive graduate schemes in the UK require at least a 2:1 (upper second).

Etymology

Origin: From Latin secundus ("following, favourable"), derived from sequi ("to follow") — the same root that gives English sequence, sequel, and subsequent. The word entered English via Old French second in the 14th century. The time sense developed from mediaeval Latin pars minuta secunda ("the second small part"), where the minute was the first small division of an hour and the second was the second small division — giving us our modern unit of sixty seconds per minute.

Example Sentences

Sentence Level Usage note
My bedroom is on the second floor. A2 ordinal adjective — position
She scored ninety-six per cent — just one per cent below the second highest score. B1 ordinal adjective — ranking comparison
The train leaves in forty seconds, so we need to hurry. B1 noun — unit of time (plural)
After the proposal was put forward, a colleague rose to second it before the committee voted. B2 verb — to formally support a motion
Despite graduating with an upper second, he felt the classification failed to reflect the depth of his research. C1 noun — British university degree grade

Collocations

CollocationExample
second chanceEveryone deserves a second chance to prove themselves.
second opinionI decided to get a second opinion before agreeing to the operation.
second natureAfter years of practice, switching languages had become second nature to her.
second languageEnglish is a second language for over a billion people worldwide.
split secondHe reacted in a split second to avoid the collision.
come secondOur team came second in the regional competition.
second thoughtsShe had second thoughts about accepting the offer after reading the contract.
second to noneThe quality of their customer service is second to none.
at second handI only heard the story at second hand, so I cannot be certain of the details.
in a matter of secondsThe fire spread to the roof in a matter of seconds.

Usage Notes

Four Things to Know About Second

  • Ordinal vs. cardinal: Use second (not two) when stating position or order: the second chapter, my second attempt. Use two when counting quantity: two attempts.
  • Secondly vs. second: Both are correct when listing points. Secondly pairs naturally with firstly and thirdly in formal writing. Second (without -ly) is equally acceptable and is common in modern British prose.
  • Time use — informal: "Just a second" and "wait a second" are used in everyday speech to mean a very short, unspecified pause — they do not mean exactly sixty seconds. This informal use is extremely common and perfectly natural.
  • The verb to second: This is a formal or procedural register word. Outside of committee meetings, debates, and formal votes, it sounds unusual. In casual conversation, use support or agree with instead.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

She finished on the second place.

She finished in second place. (use in, not on, with ordinal positions)

He is the second most tallest student in the class.

He is the second tallest student in the class. (no double superlative with ordinals)

I will do it on a second.

I will do it in a second. (use in a second for expressing time — not on)

Can I have a second thought about this?

Can I have second thoughts about this? (second thoughts is always plural in this idiom)

Related Words

secondary secondly secondhand second-rate first third minute sequence subsequent

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “second”

What does second mean?
Second has four main meanings. As an ordinal adjective it means coming directly after the first: 'the second floor'. As a noun it is a unit of time equal to one sixtieth of a minute: 'wait a second'. As a verb it means to formally support a proposal: 'I second the motion'. As a noun in British academic contexts it describes a degree classification below a first: 'She got a second'.
How do you pronounce second?
Second is pronounced /ˈsek.ənd/. The stress falls on the first syllable: SEK-und. Both syllables are short, and the final -d is always pronounced. Do not confuse the spelling with the silent letters in some similar-looking words.
What is the difference between second and seconds?
Second (singular) refers to a single unit of time or a single ordinal position. Seconds (plural) refers to more than one unit of time ('three seconds'), or informally to a second helping of food ('Can I have seconds?'). The plural 'seconds' is also used in the phrase 'in seconds', meaning very quickly.
What does second mean in a university degree?
In the British university system, a second (or 2:1 / 2:2) is a degree classification. A 2:1 (upper second) is awarded for results typically between 60–69%, and a 2:2 (lower second) for results between 50–59%. Most graduate employers require at least a 2:1.
What does it mean to second a motion?
To second a motion means to formally support a proposal made by someone else so that it can be officially discussed or voted on. In formal meetings, a motion usually requires both a proposer and a seconder before it can proceed. Example: 'I second the proposal to adjourn the meeting.'
What is a second opinion?
A second opinion is advice or an assessment from a second independent expert, usually sought when you are uncertain about the first expert's judgement. It is most commonly used in medical contexts: 'I decided to get a second opinion before agreeing to the surgery.'
What is the origin of the word second?
Second comes from Latin 'secundus', meaning 'following' or 'favourable', derived from 'sequi' (to follow). It entered English via Old French 'second' in the 14th century. The time meaning (one sixtieth of a minute) developed from mediaeval Latin 'pars minuta secunda', meaning the 'second small part' of an hour — the minute being the first small part.
What is the difference between second and secondly?
Second and secondly are both used to introduce the second point in a list or argument. 'Secondly' is more formal and is typically paired with 'firstly' and 'thirdly'. 'Second' (without -ly) is equally correct and is often preferred in modern British writing: 'First, we need to plan. Second, we need to act.'
What are common collocations with second?
Common collocations include: second chance, second opinion, second nature, second language, second floor, come second, split second, in a matter of seconds, second to none, and second thoughts. These phrases appear frequently in both everyday and academic English.
How can I practise using second in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise second in context, or use the Flash Cards tool to test vocabulary including second and its related forms (secondly, secondary, secondhand). Pay attention to which meaning is intended in reading texts — the context usually makes it clear quickly.