1
as in attire
dressy clothing
the family wore their best to the wedding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in elite
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class
only the best will go on to the finals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to worst
to achieve a victory over
at last she's bested her card-playing mother at the game of hearts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of best
Katie Simons,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
While it isn't favored to win best picture, it's been gaining momentum and could well pull off an upset.
—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
19 May 2026
As a result, while most of the athletes at the three divisional meets county-wide were hoping for personal bests, there were still those who used the meet to simply qualify and live for another week.
—
Steve Brand,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2026
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Slippery Rock is a half hour away from the town of Butler, and admirers of the president had started to make pilgrimage to the grounds of the Farm Show, where the Maximum Leader bested the forces of death only two years earlier.
—
Christopher Hooks,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for best
Adjective
The duo won Oscars for best picture, director and original screenplay.
—
Katie Simons,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
While it isn't favored to win best picture, it's been gaining momentum and could well pull off an upset.
—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
Njoku, a Pro Bowl selection in 2023 after setting career bests with 81 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns, gives Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert another target for the 2026 season.
—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
19 May 2026
As a result, while most of the athletes at the three divisional meets county-wide were hoping for personal bests, there were still those who used the meet to simply qualify and live for another week.
—
Steve Brand,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2026
Verb
In his most recent outing, Machado Garry bested former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in November.
—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Slippery Rock is a half hour away from the town of Butler, and admirers of the president had started to make pilgrimage to the grounds of the Farm Show, where the Maximum Leader bested the forces of death only two years earlier.
—
Christopher Hooks,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for best
Recent Examples of Synonyms for best
Adjective
-
The stylish silhouette instantly dresses up everything from jeans and trousers to flowy dresses, while the supportive sole makes the shoes easy to wear for hours at a time.
-
Only Prime members can save on this linen blouse, which features trendy three-quarter sleeves that are equally stylish and functional.
Noun
-
The model’s attire was crafted with a delicate lace material and two unique botanical motifs.
-
The pair can be seen dressed in black, elegant attire with bright smiles on their faces.
Noun
-
For Eala, beating Rybakina and sharing the court with Williams reinforced her place among the game’s elite.
-
The rise of the Roman empire across the Mediterranean widened the elite’s horizons for travel but narrowed their personal ambitions, and made romantic love a worthy subject for epic literature.
Verb
-
Huffines defeated Kelly Hancock, a longtime Abbott ally who the governor appointed to the seat in July.
-
In the early matchups, Ecuador upset Germany, Ivory Coast beat Curaçao 2-0, the Netherlands defeated Tunisia 3-1, and Japan and Sweden tied 1-1.
Adjective
-
The result is an elegant estate where guests can have a refined Irish breakfast, enjoy afternoon tea or cocktails come sunset.
-
Upano’s operatic scope and clean, elegant sentences really swept me off my feet.
Noun
-
For those who love a ‘50s feel but prefer not to resemble a costume from the Spirit Halloween catalog, the On 34th minidress has that nostalgic look with a contemporary feel.
-
McDaniel had purchased multiple superhero and supervillain costumes from overseas that were delivered to the two addresses, the affidavit said, citing customs records.
Noun
-
The matter was not on the city’s agenda but was brought on as a walk-on item at the top of the meeting.
-
On the subsequent rebound, the ball found Kovačić at the top of the box, but his right-footed volley was barely deflected over the net by Diogo Costa.
Verb
-
Rather than be benched, Devers batted cleanup, overcame an 0-for-3 start, and singled up the middle in the seventh to score Bryce Eldridge, who narrowly beat a tag at the plate for a 3-1 lead.
-
Its highly specialized strategy likely evolved to take advantage of the ant’s natural aggression and then overcome its defenses; the slingshot mechanism flings the ant from the foraging trail, reducing the risk that the spider will be swarmed by other workers, the researchers hypothesized.
Cite this Entry
“Best.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/best. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
