Best

Pronunciation

• IPA: /bÉ›st/
• Rhymes: -É›st

Origin

From Middle English beste, from Old English betst, betest ("best"), from Proto-Germanic *batistaz ("best"), from Proto-Indo-European *bhAd- ("good"). Cognate with Scots best ("best"), West Frisian best ("best"), Dutch best ("best"), Low German best ("best"), German beste ("best"), Danish bedst ("best"), Swedish bäst ("best"), Icelandic bestur ("best"). More at better.

Adjective

1. best

   (superlative of good)
   .
   I can either be your best friend or your worst enemy.
• William Shakespeare (1564-1616)When he is best, he is a little worse than a man.
• John Milton (1608-1674)Heaven's last, best gift
• 2013-08-10, Schumpeter, Cronies and capitols, Policing the relationship between government and business in a free society is difficult....Governments have to find the best people to fill important jobs: there is a limited supply of people who understand the financial system, for example. But governments must also remember that businesses are self-interested actors who will try to rig the system for their own benefit.
2. Most; largest.
   Unpacking took the best part of a week.

Adverb

1. best

   (superlative of well)
• John Milton (1608-1674)Thou serpent! That name best befits thee.
• Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)He prayeth best, who loveth best
  All things both great and small.
• 1907, Robert Chambers, The Younger Set Chapter 8, At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy ; and what she liked best and best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.
2. To the most advantage; with the most success, cause, profit, benefit, or propriety.
• John Milton (1608-1674)Had we best retire? I see a storm.
• William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863)Had I not best go to her?

Full definition of best

Noun

1. (uncountable) The supreme effort one can make, or has made.I did my best.My personal best in that race is eighteen minutes, four seconds.
• 2011, September 28, Tom Rostance, Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos, Home defender Per Mertesacker had to be at his best to stop a dangerous cross from Vassilis Torossidis reaching Djebbour, but moments later Arsenal doubled their lead through Santos.
2. (countable) The person (or persons) who is (are) most excellent.
3. something that is best

Verb

1. to surpass in skill or achievement.
2. (transitive) To beat in a contest;
• 2010, T. William Phillips, Restless Heart, page 16"You did not win because I was sloppy. You bested me, Uncle. I've never seen you fight like that before.”

Antonyms

• To worst.

Related terms

• better
• bestest

Derived terms

• all for the best
• all the best
• as best one can
• at best
• had best
• have the best of
• get the best of
• make the best of
• the best part of
• with the best
• best of the best

Anagrams

• bets