most

1 of 6

adjective

ˈmōst 

1

: greatest in quantity, extent, or degree

the most ability

got the most attention

2

: the majority of

most people

most

2 of 6

adverb (1)

1

: to the greatest or highest degree

—often used with an adjective or adverb to form the superlative

the most challenging job he ever had

2

somewhat formal : to a very great degree

was most persuasive

most

3 of 6

noun

: the greatest amount

it's the most I can do

most

4 of 6

pronoun

singular or plural in construction

: the greatest number or part

Most become discouraged and quit.

most

5 of 6

adverb (2)

: almost

We'll be crossing the river most any time now.

—Hamilton Basso

Can most be used in place of almost?: Usage Guide

Although considered by some to be unacceptable in all cases, most is often used to mean "almost" in both spoken and, to a lesser extent, written English to modify the adjectives all, every, and any; the pronouns all, everyone, everything, everybody, anyone, anything, and anybody; and the adverbs everywhere, anywhere, and always. Other uses of this sense of most are dialectal.

-most

6 of 6

adjective suffix

: most

innermost

: most toward

headmost

Phrases

for the most part

1

: almost all

Menu items are, for the most part, under $10.

2

: most of the time

For the most part, it's a quiet town.

at most or at the most

: as an extreme limit

took him an hour at most

Synonyms of most

Adjective

• maximum
• utmost
• ultimate

Adverb (1)

• extremely
• very
• incredibly
• highly
• terribly
• too
• so
• damn
• damned
• far
• really
• badly
• much
• especially
• severely
• seriously
• intensely
• that
• desperately
• particularly

Noun

• maximum

Adverb (2)

• almost
• nearly
• practically
• fairly

Examples of most in a Sentence

Adjective

Choosing a color took the most time.

That family owned the most land.

Unfortunately the negative aspects of our schools get the most attention.

Adverb (1)

a most careful driver, especially in bad weather

Noun

this room will accommodate 50 people at the most

Adverb (2)

the cost of most everything is higher nowadays

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Just that bill right there, that's more than our mortgage, our insurance, most of our food. —ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025

While most plot details remain under wraps, The Hollywood Reporter previously revealed that one plot point centers on the son of Stiller and Polo’s characters, who gets engaged to a ball-busting woman who seems all wrong for him. —Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2025

Adverb

Nonpartisan experts who have studied the subject believe the increasing cost of upgrading the grid, with new transmission lines or other facilities, is the single factor most responsible for rate increases. —Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025

Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans. —Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Adverb (1), Noun, and Pronoun

Middle English, from Old English mǣst; akin to Old High German meist most, Old English māra more — more at more

Adverb (2)

by shortening

Adjective suffix

Middle English, alteration of -mest (as in formest foremost)

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Pronoun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb (2)

circa 1538, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing most

• at most
• at the most
• make the most of
• most likely
• most of the time
• most times
• most valuable player
• the most

Rhymes for most

• boast
• coast
• doest
• dosed
• ghost
• grossed
• almost
• engrossed
• foremost
• hindmost
• impost
• inmost

Kids Definition

most

1 of 5 adjective

ˈmōst 

1

: the majority of

most people believe this

2

: greatest in amount or extent

the most ability

most

2 of 5 adverb

1

: to the greatest or highest level or extent

—often used with an adjective or adverb to form the superlative

most active

most actively

2

: to a very great extent

a most careful driver

most

3 of 5 noun

: the greatest amount, number, or part

most

4 of 5 adverb

: almost

the cost of most everything is higher

-most

5 of 5 adjective suffix

ˌmōst

: most

innermost

Etymology

Adjective suffix

Middle English -most "most"