second
gb/sˈɛkənd/ us/sˈɛkənd/
A1
English
~ 1100
másodperc, második, pártol, támogat, segítő, párbajsegéd, szekundáns
NOUN
A2
1
másodperc
A1
The race was decided by just a fraction of a second.
A versenyt mindössze egy másodperc töredéke döntötte el.
Please wait a few seconds before starting.
Kérlek, várj néhány másodpercet, mielőtt elkezded.
It only takes seconds to send a message.
The light turned green after thirty seconds.
She held her breath for ten seconds.
Learner examples
I waited for five seconds.
Öt másodpercig vártam.
The movie starts in two seconds.
A film két másodperc múlva kezdődik.
He can run 100 meters in ten seconds.
Please give me a few seconds.
She left after thirty seconds.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'second' (time unit) with 'second' (ordinal number).
Meaning
unit of time, 1/60 minute
Collocations
a few seconds
|in seconds
|seconds later
|split second
|within seconds
Synonyms
moment (Less precise; can mean an indefinite short time.)
Antonyms
hour (A much longer time unit.)
Themes
science
|daily life
|time
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very short time unit; 60 seconds make one minute.
A unit for measuring time equal to one sixtieth of a minute.
A1
2
második
A1
She finished in second place in the race.
Második helyen végzett a versenyen.
His office is on the second floor.
Az irodája a második emeleten van.
This is my second attempt at baking bread.
They celebrated their second wedding anniversary.
The second chapter is the most exciting.
Learner examples
I live on the second floor.
A második emeleten lakom.
She came second in the race.
Második lett a versenyen.
This is my second try.
He got second prize in the contest.
We met for the second time yesterday.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'second' (ordinal) with 'two' as a quantity.
Meaning
coming after the first
Collocations
second place
|second chance
|second floor
|second prize
Synonyms
next (Less specific; can refer to any following position.)
Antonyms
first (Indicates the initial position or rank.)
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|time
Definition
Next after the first in order or place.
Coming next after the first in position, order, or importance.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
to second [a motion/proposal/suggestion]
I would like to second that motion.
Szeretném pártolni ezt az indítványt.
The committee member seconded the proposal.
A bizottsági tag pártolta a javaslatot.
Several board members seconded her suggestion.
Who will second the resolution?
He refused to second the plan.
Learner examples
I second your idea.
Támogatom az ötletedet.
She seconded his plan in the meeting.
A megbeszélésen támogatta az ő tervét.
Who will second this motion?
I second the proposal.
They seconded my suggestion.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'second' meaning 'next after first'; here it is an action in formal contexts.
Meaning
formally support a motion
Collocations
second a motion
|second a proposal
|second a suggestion
Synonyms
endorse (Broader; can mean public approval beyond formal meetings.)
Antonyms
oppose (To actively disagree with or reject a proposal.)
Themes
business
|politics
|law
|communication
Definition
To say you agree with an idea in a meeting so people can talk about it or vote on it.
To formally express agreement with a proposal so it can be discussed or voted on.
NOUN
C1
4
In the duel, each participant had a second to assist them.
A párbajban mindkét félnek volt egy párbajsegédje.
His coach acted as his second during the boxing match.
A bokszmeccs alatt az edzője volt a segítője.
She served as his second in the tournament.
The knight's loyal second was always by his side.
Learner examples
He had a second to help him fight.
Volt egy segítője, aki segített neki a küzdelemben.
His friend was his second in the match.
A barátja volt a segítője a mérkőzésen.
The boxer’s second gave him water.
She was his trusted second in battle.
Meaning
assistant in contest or duel
Collocations
act as second
|his trusted second
Synonyms
assistant (More general; not limited to contests or fights.)
Antonyms
opponent (The person competing against you.)
Themes
sports
|history
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A person who helps and supports another person in a fight or contest.
A person who assists or supports another, especially during a competition, fight, or duel.
Grammar
Dictionary form
second
IPA
GB/sˈɛkənd/
US/sˈɛkənd/
Syllables & stress
second (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (second)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: second
Noun
- Base: second
- Plural: seconds
Verb
- Base: second
- 3rd Person Singular: seconds
- Present Participle: seconding
- Past: seconded
Word family
Expressions
at second glance
1/ˈæt sˈɛkənd ɡlˈæns/
fixed phrase
after looking again more closely
When you look again and notice something new or different.
Examples
- At second glance, the painting seemed more detailed than I thought.
- It looked easy at first, but at second glance it was quite complex.
give someone a second chance
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn ə sˈɛkənd t͡ʃˈæns/
fixed phrase
allow retry after failure/mistake
To let someone try again after they failed or made a mistake before.
Examples
- He apologized and asked her to give him a second chance.
- They gave the player a second chance after his poor performance.
in a second
1/ˈɪn ə sˈɛkənd/
fixed phrase
informal
very soon from now
Very soon; after a very short time.
Examples
- I’ll be there in a second, just finishing this email.
- She said she would call back in a second.
second to none
1/sˈɛkənd tə nˈʌn/
idiom
better than everyone else
The best; better than anyone or anything else.
Examples
- Her cooking skills are second to none.
- Her cooking is second to none.
- The hotel’s service is second to none.
- The view from this hotel is second to none.
split second
1/splˈɪt sˈɛkənd/
fixed phrase
An extremely short moment of time
A very short moment of time.
Examples
- He made the decision in a split second.
- It all happened in a split second.
- The car appeared out of nowhere in a split second.