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1

best

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adjective \ˈbest\

Definition of best

  1. superlative of good

  1. 1 :  excelling all others the best student in the class

  2. 2 :  most productive of good :  offering or producing the greatest advantage, utility, or satisfaction What is the best thing to do?

  3. 3 :  most, largest It rained for the best part of their vacation.

See best defined for English-language learners

See best defined for kids

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Examples of best in a Sentence

  1. You should wear your best clothes tonight.

  2. We ate the best food and drank the best wines.

  3. His modesty and sense of humor are his best qualities.

  4. Is that your best offer?

  5. Which of these do you think tastes best?

  6. Mary sends you her very best wishes.

  7. She's the best student in her class.

  8. He won the award for best actor in a drama.

  9. She truly believes that this is the best way to solve the problem.

  10. She's the team's best hope for a medal.

Origin and Etymology of best

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

2

best

adverb

Definition of best

  1. superlative of well

  1. 1 :  in the best (see 1best) way :  to greatest advantage Some things are best left unsaid.

  2. 2 :  most Those best able will provide needed support.

as best

  1. :  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

  1. The sauce is best served cold.

  2. They work best under pressure.

  3. That's what we do best!

  4. We need to think about how best to fix this problem.

  5. The work should be done by the people who are best able to do it.

  6. She's best suited to life in the city.

  7. He is best known for his invention of the lightbulb.

  8. The museum features some of the best-known examples of this style of painting.

Origin and Etymology of best

see 1best

3

best

noun

Definition of best

plural

best

  1. 1 :  the best (see 1best) state or part You haven't heard the best of it.

  2. 2 :  one that is best the best falls short saved the best for last

  3. 3 :  the greatest degree of good or excellence He's at his best in front of a live audience. democracy at its best

  4. 4a :  one's maximum effort do your bestb :  a best performance or achievement ran a new personal best

  5. 5 :  best clothes wearing their Sunday best

at best

  1. :  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

  1. :  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

  1. Out of all of my workers, he's the best.

  2. Our company is the best in the business.

  3. Thanks, Dad. You're the best!

  4. I have one more gift for you, and I saved the best for last.

  5. Bad things happen to the best of us.

  6. They want the best for their children.

  7. Even in the best of times, we had trouble paying our bills.

  8. In the best of all possible worlds, no one would be without food and clean water.

  9. I have a wonderful family and a great job, so I feel that I have the best of both worlds.

  10. He did his best to help them.

Origin and Etymology of best

see 1best

best Synonyms

Synonyms
array, finery, bravery, caparison, feather, frippery, full dress, gaiety (also gayety), glad rags, regalia
Related Words
apparel, attire, costume, duds, habiliment (s), rags, raiment, rig, rigging, threads, toggery, togs, vestiary, vesture, wear
Near Antonyms
tatters; disarray, dishabille
4

best

verb

Definition of best

  1. transitive verb

  2. :  to get the better of :  outdo bested by their opponents

See best defined for English-language learners

Examples of best in a Sentence

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

Origin and Etymology of best

see 1best

best Synonyms

Synonyms
beat, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down [British], get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst
Antonyms
lose (to)
Related Words
sweep; edge (out), nose out, pip [British]; annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke [slang], snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax [slang], whip; cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed; knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish; ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, excel, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend
Near Antonyms
fall, give up, go down, go under; collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out
5

best

auxiliary verb

Definition of best

  1. :  had best (see 2best 1) you best listen

Origin and Etymology of best

see 1best

Best

play
biographical name \ˈbest\

Definition of Best

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

BEST Defined for English Language Learners

best

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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

1

best

play
adjective \ˈbest\

Definition of best for Students

  1. superlative of good

  1. 1 :  better than all others He's the best speller in the class.

  2. 2 :  most appropriate, useful, or helpful This is the best way to solve the problem.

best part

  1. :  3most It rained for the best part of their vacation.

2

best

play
adverb

Definition of best for Students

  1. superlative of well

  1. 1 :  in a way that is better than all the others This dessert is best eaten hot.

  2. 2 :  2most 1 She's best able to do the work.

3

best

play
noun

Definition of best for Students

  1. 1 :  a person or thing or part of a thing that is better than all the others You're the best!

  2. 2 :  someone's greatest effort Do your best.

4

best

play
verb

Definition of best for Students

bested

;

besting

  1. :  to do better than :  defeat or outdo He bested us in every game.

Learn More about best

  1. 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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Examples: best in a Sentence