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Meaning & use

second-quarter

adjective, noun·Academicbusinessfinance

Last updated

UK/ˌsekənd ˈkwɔːtə/
US/ˌsekənd ˈkwɔːrtər/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a nounbusinessfinance

    Relating to the second three-month period of a financial year, typically April to June.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: 'second-quarter profits'. It is not usually used after a verb like 'be'.

    Patterns

    • second-quarter earnings
    • second-quarter results
    • second-quarter growth

    The company reported strong second-quarter earnings.

    Second-quarter sales were higher than expected.

    Analysts are predicting second-quarter growth of 2%.

  2. nouncountablebusinessfinance

    The second quarter of a financial year, especially in business contexts.

    Grammar: Often written as 'the second quarter' or 'Q2'. When used as a noun, it can follow 'in'.

    Patterns

    • in the second quarter
    • during the second quarter
    • the second quarter of the year

    Revenue rose by 5% in the second quarter.

    The company will release its second-quarter figures next week.

    We expect to launch the product in the second quarter.

Common combinations

second-quarter earnings
Second-quarter earnings beat analysts' forecasts.
second-quarter results
The second-quarter results showed a slight decline.
second-quarter profit
The firm announced a second-quarter profit of $2 million.
second-quarter sales
Second-quarter sales were driven by new products.
in the second quarter
The new store will open in the second quarter.

Synonyms and how they differ

Q2
Q2 is the abbreviation for second quarter, used in informal business writing.
fiscal second quarter
Fiscal second quarter is more formal and specifies the financial year, not the calendar year.

Opposites

first quarterthird quarterfourth quarter

Word family

quarter noun
A period of three months.
quarterly adjective
Happening every three months.

Commonly confused: second-quarter or second quarter?

second-quarter vs second quarter

Without a hyphen, 'second quarter' is the noun phrase; the hyphenated form is used as an adjective before a noun.

Practice

The company's ______ earnings were released yesterday, showing a 10% increase.

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