second highest

USAGE SUMMARY

'second highest' is correct and can be used in written English.
For example: The company reported the second highest profit in its history.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Dallas was the second highest.

The New York Times

"We've had the second highest payroll".

The New York Times - Sports

Cambridge is second highest, in sixth.

The Guardian

Our electric rates, the second highest.

The New York Times

The second highest subject was Islamic studies.

The Guardian

Bardarbunga is Iceland's second highest mountain.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Maryland has the second highest-amount per borrower -- $28,330.

Huffington Post

"We've got the second-highest percentage of millennials," Licata said, "and the second-highest number of single-member households.

The Guardian

The second-highest contract is Jason Bay's.

The New York Times

Hockey has the second-highest rate.

The New York Times

The second-highest bidder backed out, too.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "second highest", ensure it's clear what scale or metric you are referencing. For example, "the second highest mountain" or "the second highest score".

Common error

Avoid using "second highest" without specifying the context. Without clear context, readers may misunderstand what is being ranked or measured.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "second highest" functions as an ordinal adjective phrase modifying a noun. It indicates a position in a ranked order, specifically the position immediately below the top rank. Ludwig AI confirms the correct and widespread usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "second highest" is a common and grammatically correct way to denote the item or entity that ranks immediately below the top position. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans across various domains, from news and media to scientific and academic contexts. When employing "second highest", ensure clarity by specifying the scale or metric being referenced to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "next highest" or "runner-up" exist, "second highest" provides a direct and widely understood indication of relative ranking.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

second-ranked

Directly states the ranking position.

next highest

Emphasizes sequential order in ranking.

runner-up

Specifically refers to the second position in a competition.

second best

Highlights quality rather than position.

number two

A more informal way to express the second position.

vice-champion

Often used in sports contexts; a more formal term for runner-up.

penultimate highest

More formal; implies 'second to last' in terms of height or rank.

subordinate peak

Used mainly in geographical contexts to describe a mountain.

second in command

Refers to hierarchical leadership positions.

following the leader

Indicates position immediately after the top entity.

FAQs

How can I use "second highest" in a sentence?

The phrase "second highest" is used to indicate the item or entity that ranks immediately below the top position. For example: "That mountain is the "second highest" in the range."

What can I say instead of "second highest"?

You can use alternatives like "next highest", "runner-up", or "second best" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the second high" instead of "second highest"?

No, "second high" is not grammatically correct in this context. "Second highest" is the standard phrasing to indicate ranking.

What's the difference between "second highest" and "third highest"?

"Second highest" refers to the entity immediately below the highest-ranked one, while "third highest" refers to the entity below the second-highest one.