most

1 of 6

adjective

ˈmōst 

1

: greatest in quantity, extent, or degree

the most ability

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

: 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

at most or at the most

: as an extreme limit

took him an hour at most

Synonyms

Adjective

• consummate
• last
• max
• maximum
• nth
• outside
• paramount
• supreme
• top
• ultimate
• utmost
• uttermost

Adverb (1)

• achingly
• almighty
• archly
• awful
• awfully
• badly
• beastly
• blisteringly
• bone
• colossally
• corking
• cracking
• damn
• damned
• dang
• deadly
• desperately
• eminently
• enormously
• especially
• ever
• exceedingly
• exceeding
• extra
• extremely
• fabulously
• fantastically
• far
• fiercely
• filthy
• frightfully
• full
• greatly
• heavily
• highly
• hugely
• immensely
• incredibly
• intensely
• jolly
• majorly
• mightily
• mighty
• monstrous [chiefly dialect]
• mortally
• much
• particularly
• passing
• rattling
• real
• really
• right
• roaring
• roaringly
• seriously
• severely
• so
• sore
• sorely
• spanking
• specially
• stinking
• such
• super
• supremely
• surpassingly
• terribly
• that
• thumping
• too
• unco
• uncommonly
• vastly
• very
• vitally
• way
• whacking
• wicked
• wildly

Noun

• max
• maximum
• outside

Adverb (2)

• about
• all but
• almost
• borderline
• fair [chiefly British]
• fairly
• feckly [chiefly Scottish]
• more or less
• much
• near
• nearly
• next to
• nigh
• practically
• somewhere
• virtually
• well-nigh

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

In a swarm of hands, Armstrong’s eyes land on Ema Beckley, a 25-year-old fan clad in plaid shorts and a black tee shirt who arrived at the stadium hours before most of the crowd to grab a spot in the front row. —Joe Sills, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024

For their part, the Russians considered the Mizrahim—indeed, most Israelis—loud, uncultured boors. —Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2024

Adverb

Best Time to Visit The best time to visit Goblin Valley State Park is in the spring and fall because the weather is fantastic — but take heed, that’s also when the park is most popular. —Carrie Dennis, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2024

Trump was most recently in Arizona less than a month ago, on Sept. 12. —Stephanie Murray, The Arizona Republic, 6 Oct. 2024

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
• for the most part
• make the most of
• most likely
• most of the time
• most times
• most valuable player
• the most

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"