1
: greatest in quantity, extent, or degree
the most ability
got the most attention
2
: the majority of
most people
see also:
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
singular or plural in construction
: the greatest number or part
Most become discouraged and quit.
: almost
We'll be crossing the river most any time now.—
Hamilton Basso
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
innermost
: most toward
headmost
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
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
Meziane once again went to rookie-heavy lineups for most of the fourth with New York’s starters off the court.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 15 May 2026
The changes that the mayor is seeking will still set this housing apart for those who need it most, but not let bureaucracy itself drive them away.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for most
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
For most of last Saturday’s draw, San Diego looked like a team ready to climb out of its springtime rut.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
Meziane once again went to rookie-heavy lineups for most of the fourth with New York’s starters off the court.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Adverb
Since the seventies, the famed Nuyorican Poets Café has blossomed on the Lower East Side as an essential hothouse for arts movements of many stripes, perhaps most crucially as a launching pad for an emergent literati straddling the realms of soul and hip-hop.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 15 May 2026
The changes that the mayor is seeking will still set this housing apart for those who need it most, but not let bureaucracy itself drive them away.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for most
Cite this Entry
“Most.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/most. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
most
1 of 5 adjective1
: the majority of
most people believe this
2
: greatest in amount or extent
the most ability
most
2 of 5 adverb1
: 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 suffixˌmōst
: most
innermost
Etymology
Adjective suffix
Middle English -most "most"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
