most

⁵most

adv

Definition of MOST

: almost <we'll be crossing the river most any time now — Hamilton Basso>

Usage Discussion of MOST

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.

Origin of MOST

by shortening

First Known Use: circa 1584