second best noun
[noncount] : something that is good but not the best
▪ He won't settle for second best.
▪ He won't settle for second best.
come off second best
chiefly Brit : to finish in second place : to fail to win
▪ Our team came off second best.
▪ Our team came off second best.
— sec·ond–best 
/ˌsɛkəndˈbɛst/ adjective always used before a noun
▪ We were seated at the second-best table. ▪ He was considered the team's second-best pitcher.
/ˌsɛkəndˈbɛst/ adjective always used before a noun ▪ We were seated at the second-best table. ▪ He was considered the team's second-best pitcher.
