Meanings
plural second gears
- countableuncountableThe second of the available gears in a transmission or other gearbox.
Synonyms: second
- countablefigurativelyidiomaticuncountableMediocre, sluggish performance.
stuck in second gear
1 more example
The hosts remained in second gear after the break although Orient, with impressive Daniels a constant outlet down the right, did at least show a sense of adventure.
2011 March 2, Chris Whyatt, “Arsenal 5 - 0 Leyton Orient”, in BBCAntonyms: top gear
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe second of the available gears in a transmission or other gearbox.
nounMediocre, sluggish performance.
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe gear that has the second lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Bulgarian вто́ра преда́вка
- вто́ра преда́вка (vtóra predávka)second lowest gear
Catalan segona
- segonasecond lowest gear
Finnish kakkosvaihde, kakkonen
- kakkosvaihdesecond lowest gear
- kakkonensecond lowest gear
- toinen vaihdesecond lowest gear
- vajaatehomediocre performance
German zweiter Gang
- zweiter Gangsecond lowest gear
Polish drugi bieg, drugi bieg
- drugi biegsecond lowest gear
- drugi biegmediocre performance
Russian втора́я переда́ча
- втора́я переда́ча (vtorája peredáča)second lowest gear
Cite this entry
second gear. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/second%20gear
“second gear.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/second%20gear. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “second gear,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/second%20gear.
Source: second gear on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.