second in line
Awaiting the throne
Second in line describes someone or something positioned immediately after the first, whether in a physical queue or a hierarchy of succession.
The phrase appears most often in discussions of who would assume power or responsibility if the current holder is removed: The vice president is second in line to the presidency.
It can also describe literal positioning: We were second in line at the ticket window.
- heirOne who receives legacy
- successorOne who replaces another
- runner-upCompetition's silver finisher
- silver medalRunner-up's award
- understudyBackup actor, ready nightly
waiting in the wings · backup · deputy · number two · vice · throne · royal family · crown · waiting · reserve · on deck · next · prince · queue · standby · shadow · alternate · bench
- Royal Heirsheir apparent, heir presumptive, crown prince, crown princess, royal heir
- royal successionthrone, succession, order of succession, succession order, crown succession
second in linelast in line
frontrunner · next up · heir apparent · bringing up the rear · dead last
second in linefirst priority
Most urgent matter
number one · first choice · heir presumptive · afterthought · also-ran
second, line, seconds, secondly, secondary, seconded, seconding, lines, lined