best

adjective \ ˈbest \

|Updated on: 22 Jun 2018

Examples: best in a Sentence

Definition of best

superlative of good

1 : excelling all others

the best student in the class

2 : most productive of good : offering or producing the greatest advantage, utility, or satisfaction

What is the best thing to do?

3 : most, largest

It rained for the best part of their vacation.

See best defined for English-language learners

See best defined for kids

Examples of best in a Sentence

You should wear your best clothes tonight.
We ate the best food and drank the best wines.
His modesty and sense of humor are his best qualities.
Is that your best offer?
Which of these do you think tastes best?
Mary sends you her very best wishes.
She's the best student in her class.
He won the award for best actor in a drama.
She truly believes that this is the best way to solve the problem.
She's the team's best hope for a medal.

Recent Examples of best from the Web

But Liberty, the only Black girl in the drama’s original cast, was grappling with impossible situations during her series’ heyday right along with her fictional best friends.

— refinery29.com, "Let's Put Some Respect On Liberty Van Zandt's Name, Degrassi Fans," 15 June 2018
But by the end of the summer, one of the brothers had become best friends with a boy with autism.

— page leggett, charlotteobserver, "Campers and counselors benefit from this camp that welcomes those with disabilities," 7 June 2018
Others, like Samantha Grady and Helena Ramsay, were best friends.

— New York Times, "‘Are We Going to Die Today?’ Inside a Parkland Classroom as Bullets Flew," 6 June 2018
The Herta-Andretti Autosport driver ripped off a series-best time of 1:14.8514 in the closing minute of the second qualifying session.

— jim ayello, Indianapolis Star, "IndyCar Belle Isle: Marco Andretti wins first pole since 2013," 2 June 2018
The next-best scorer is defender Brek Shea with three goals.

— dan mcloone, BostonGlobe.com, "Revolution start busy stretch with a road game at Vancouver," 25 May 2018
Michael Medley, one of Ellis’ colleagues and best friends, had spoken with him only hours before.

— matthew glowicki, The Courier-Journal, "Who killed Bardstown Officer Jason Ellis? 5 years later, nobody knows," 22 May 2018
Gleit, one of the only women on staff during the company’s early days, became best friends with both of their wives, Priscilla Chan (Zuckerberg) and Visra Vichit-Vadakan (Cox).

— kurt wagner, Recode, "Facebook is full of could-be CEOs — but no one ever leaves," 22 May 2018
To mark the special occasion, Meghan gifted her six best friends and sister-in-law Kate Middleton with a momento: a beautiful gold disc bracelet.

— marina liao, Marie Claire, "You, Too, Can Have the Bracelet Meghan Markle Gave Kate Middleton," 21 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'best.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of best

Middle English, from Old English betst; akin to Old English bōt remedy — more at better

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

best

adverb

Definition of best

superlative of well

1 : in the best (see ¹best) way : to greatest advantage

Some things are best left unsaid.

2 : most

Those best able will provide needed support.

— as best

: as well, skillfully, or accurately as

Try to do it as best you can.

See best defined for English-language learners

Examples of best in a Sentence

The sauce is best served cold.
They work best under pressure.
That's what we do best!
We need to think about how best to fix this problem.
The work should be done by the people who are best able to do it.
She's best suited to life in the city.
He is best known for his invention of the lightbulb.
The museum features some of the best-known examples of this style of painting.

Recent Examples of best from the Web

When Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey died in the great rock n' roll exodus of 2016 at the age of 67, many people thought that the shop was permanently closed for one of the best-selling rock acts of the 20th century.

— craig hlavaty, Houston Chronicle, "A revamped Eagles lineup and Chris Stapleton knock the hits out of Minute Maid Park," 16 June 2018
In the 1970s, Halston’s Ultrasuede shirt dress, one of his best-selling designs, could be worn unapologetically in lieu of a suit.

— nancy macdonell, WSJ, "The Surprisingly Feminist Story of the Shirt Dress," 15 June 2018
Its best-selling bundle — a three-pack of routers — sells for $399.

— jacob kastrenakes, The Verge, "Eero promises not to brick routers if you don’t pay a subscription," 14 June 2018
His pictures were collected in the best-selling book This Is War!

— john loengard, Time, "The Power Of David Douglas Duncan’s Photography," 14 June 2018
In the first quarter of 2018, the Model 3 is the best-selling electric vehicle in the U.S., followed by the Toyota Prius Prime, Model S and Model X, according to Bloomberg.

— robert duffer, chicagotribune.com, "What Chicago can expect from working with Tesla's Elon Musk: A delayed, cash-guzzling success," 14 June 2018
Enter author, speaker, and counselor Gary Chapman's best-selling relationship book, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts.

— lindsey murray, Good Housekeeping, "Thousands of Amazon Reviewers Claim 'The 5 Love Languages' Book Helped Save Their Marriages," 14 June 2018
Set before previous games in the franchise, Fallout 76 is the follow-up to 2015’s Fallout 4, the company’s best-selling game, which sold more than 20 million copies.

— chris morris, Fortune, "Bethesda Softworks Announces 'Fallout 76' Release Date and New 'Elder Scrolls' Game," 11 June 2018
After adapting Jay Asher's best-selling novel of the same name for season one, the second season continued to follow the lives of the students at Liberty High, despite Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) running out of tapes.

— jackie strause, The Hollywood Reporter, "'13 Reasons Why': 9 Burning Questions for Season 3," 10 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of best

see ¹best

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

best

noun

Definition of best

plural best

1 : the best (see ¹best) state or part

You haven't heard the best of it.

2 : one that is best

the best falls short

saved the best for last

3 : the greatest degree of good or excellence

He's at his best in front of a live audience.

democracy at its best

4 a : one's maximum effort

do your best

b : a best performance or achievement

ran a new personal best

5 : best clothes

wearing their Sunday best

— at best

: under the most favorable circumstances

won't be finished for another three months at best

At best, you will earn back what you paid in.

He's an average writer at best.

… was among the worst schools in a city whose public education could be described as struggling, at best.
—Ann Carrns

— get the best of

: to overcome or outdo (someone or something) : to get the better of

The hero got the best of the villain in the end.

I let my emotions get the best of me and said something I regret.

Let's face it: As much as we like to eat healthy, the old sweet tooth sometimes gets the best of us.
—Denise I. O'Neal

See best defined for English-language learners

Examples of best in a Sentence

Out of all of my workers, he's the best.
Our company is the best in the business.
Thanks, Dad. You're the best!
I have one more gift for you, and I saved the best for last.
Bad things happen to the best of us.
They want the best for their children.
Even in the best of times, we had trouble paying our bills.
In the best of all possible worlds, no one would be without food and clean water.
I have a wonderful family and a great job, so I feel that I have the best of both worlds.
He did his best to help them.

Recent Examples of best from the Web

Since coming to Baltimore this spring, the dapper diner has indulged in some of the city’s bests.

— tim prudente, Washington Post, "Who is the man in the fedora?," 13 June 2018
Since coming to Baltimore this spring, the dapper diner has indulged in some of the city’s bests.

— tim prudente, baltimoresun.com, "Who is the man in the fedora? Baltimore restaurant owners say they've been stiffed by a dapper dine-and-dasher," 5 June 2018
Last week, Gardena Serra junior Jazmyne Frost ran personal bests to win the 100 and 200 and anchored the victorious 400-meter relay while leading her team to the Division 4 title.

— steve galluzzo, latimes.com, "Asani Hampton eyes state record after winning 100-meter dash at Masters Meet," 26 May 2018
Its overall best: Both eMOTIVe and 2003's Thirteenth Step debuted and peaked at No. 2.

— kevin rutherford, Billboard, "A Perfect Circle Rules Rock Albums Charts, Sleep Makes Billboard 200 Debut," 2 May 2018
Toothman scored the meet off regional bests and had Avon ahead by two points.

— david woods, Indianapolis Star, "IHSAA boys track and field: Isaac Guerendo misses history, but leads Avon to team state title," 2 June 2018
Groom hit personal bests in the triple jump and high jump, taking only one attempt each in triple and long jumps.

— rick armstrong, Aurora Beacon-News, "West Aurora's Camron Donatlan finishes with mixed results while Marmion wins 2A team title," 27 May 2018
Davies’ personal bests are 11.43 in the 100 and 23.49 in the 200.

— aaron carter, Philly.com, "PIAA track state championships: Thelma Davies shines, Austin Kratz beats the clock, Neumann-Goretti beat everyone," 26 May 2018
Even in other sports, their regular-season performance shattered norms: The previous bests for true expansion teams since 1960 in MLB (Angels, 70-91 record), the NBA (Chicago Bulls, 33-48) and NFL (Carolina Panthers, 7-9) were objectively not good.

— andrew beaton, WSJ, "How the Expansion Vegas Golden Knights Reached the Stanley Cup Finals," 24 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of best

see ¹best

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

best Synonyms

Synonyms

aristocracy, choice, cream, crème de la crème, elect, elite, fat, flower, pick, pride, prime, royalty, upper crust;

Near Antonyms

commoners, herd, hoi polloi, masses, millions, mob, multitude, rank and file, unwashed;

Phrases

cream of the crop, Hall of Fame;

best

verb

Definition of best

bested; besting; bests

transitive verb

: to get the better of : outdo

bested by their opponents

See best defined for English-language learners

Examples of best in a Sentence

at last she's bested her card-playing mother at the game of hearts

Recent Examples of best from the Web

That's a far cry from the side that scored 26 goals in World Cup qualifying (albeit plenty of damage coming against Belarus and Luxembourg) and bested the Netherlands for a spot in the playoff round.

— luis miguel echegaray, SI.com, "LIVE: Sweden, South Korea Clash in World Cup Group F Opener," 18 June 2018
Miles came as close as anyone to equaling, even besting Saban.

— george schroeder, USA TODAY, "In high-pressure SEC, it's Nick Saban and a revolving door of coaches," 30 May 2018
By publishing his book at age 102, Quillin has bested the current Guinness record holder Bertha Wood, an Englishwoman who was 100 when her memoir wwnt to press in 2006.

— pam kragen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Carlsbad author, 102, sets second world record," 22 May 2018
How many other men have bested federal prosecutors twice while representing themselves?

— leah sottile, Longreads, "Bundyville Chapter Four: The Gospel of Bundy," 18 May 2018
In last March’s special House race in Pennsylvania, where Democrat Conor Lamb bested GOP opponent Rick Saccone deep in Trump country, voters cited health care as a major factor, according to Public Policy Polling, a Democratic firm.

— reid j. epstein, WSJ, "Health Law Is Back as Campaign Issue—This Time for Democrats," 11 May 2018
Women's college golf: Richmond bested Navy by three strokes to claim a third-straight Patriot League title.

— baltimoresun.com, "Digest: Coan, Meyers help U.S. women earn another sweep at World Para Swimming World Series," 22 Apr. 2018
Island secured her first county title in the pole vault by posting a height of 8 feet, 6 inches and then bested that mark during her second-place finish at the region meet.

— kyle stackpole, Howard County Times, "Mt. Hebron's Jaiden Ritter tracks down Howard County girls indoor Athlete of the Year," 18 Apr. 2018
Walt Whitman: Harold Bloom has written that if he were forced to take one American author with him to that proverbial desert island, Whitman would be his man, narrowly besting Henry James.

— mike fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Teens offer hope for tomorrow in 'Antarctica, WI,' 'I and You'," 9 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of best

see ¹best

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1863

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

best Synonyms

Phrases

get the better of, knock for a loop;

best

auxiliary verb

Definition of best

: had best (see ²best 1)

you best listen

Recent Examples of best from the Web

Places like the Ramp, Mission Rock and Pier 23 are great places to dine, but what’s on the plate is generally bested by the view.

— michael bauer, SFChronicle.com, "Michael Bauer’s best Top 100 Restaurants with outdoor dining in SF," 19 June 2018
Williams’ winning time of 10.42 seconds in the 100 meters is No. 2 among all sophomores in the nation this season, bested only by Marcellus Moore of Plainfield North in Illinois, who ran 10.33 at the Illinois 3A Boys South Sectional meet.

— OregonLive.com, "OSAA state track and field 2018: The untold stories," 29 May 2018
The District and Arlington were bested only by Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Twin Cities that claimed the top two spots.

— justin wm. moyer, Washington Post, "Parks in D.C. and Arlington are among the nation’s best, a survey says," 24 May 2018
Surprising everyone involved, the album came within one position of topping iTunes' U.S. Latino Albums chart, bested only by the latest from international superstar Juanes.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "Mariachi Herencia de Mexico turns Chicago schoolkids into chart-busting stars," 23 May 2018
According to Apple, the red heart emoji was the second most popular emoji in 2017, bested only by the crying laugh face.

— taylor lorenz, The Atlantic, "The One Emoji That Means True Love," 16 May 2018
In 2004, Miller voted again for the losing candidate, this time former Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, a Democrat bested by Bush.

— chris fuchs /, NBC News, "For Congressional candidate Aruna Miller, politics is about 'helping the public'," 16 May 2018
She was bested by Jeremiah Langhorne of The Dabney in Washington.

— sarah meehan, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore chef Cindy Wolf gets passed over again for James Beard Award," 8 May 2018
Relegation brings an end to Stoke's 10-year stay in the Premier League, a record bested by only seven other teams in the league.

— SI.com, "Contract Clause Revelation Casts Doubt Over Paul Lambert's Stoke City Future Following Relegation," 8 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of best

see ¹best

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1897

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Best

biographical name \ ˈbest \

Definition of Best

Charles Herbert 1899–1978 Canadian (American-born) physiologist

BEST Defined for English Language Learners

best

adjective

Definition of best for English Language Learners

: better than all others in quality or value
: most skillful, talented, or successful
: most appropriate, useful, or helpful

best

adverb

Definition of best for English Language Learners

: in the best way : in a way that is better than all others : with the most success or benefit
: to the greatest degree or extent

best

noun

Definition of best for English Language Learners

the best : the best person or thing : the best group of people or things
: someone's or something's most effective, capable, or successful condition
: the highest level that you can do or achieve

best

verb

Definition of best for English Language Learners

: to do better than (someone or something) : to defeat or outdo (someone or something)

BEST Defined for Kids

best

adjective \ ˈbest \

Definition of best for Students

superlative of good

1 : better than all others

He's the best speller in the class.

2 : most appropriate, useful, or helpful

This is the best way to solve the problem.

— best part

: ³most

It rained for the best part of their vacation.

best

adverb

Definition of best for Students

superlative of well

1 : in a way that is better than all the others

This dessert is best eaten hot.

2 : ²most 1

She's best able to do the work.

best

noun

Definition of best for Students

1 : a person or thing or part of a thing that is better than all the others

You're the best!

2 : someone's greatest effort

Do your best.

best

verb

Definition of best for Students

bested; besting

: to do better than : defeat or outdo

He bested us in every game.

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See words that rhyme with best Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for best Spanish Central: Translation of best Nglish: Translation of best for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of best for Arabic speakers

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best

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