best

¹

[best]

adjective

1. of the highest quality, excellence, or standing.

   I do my best work after meditation.

   Singling out the student with the top GPA is not always the most effective way to find the best students.

2. most advantageous, suitable, or desirable.

   We've investigated a number of methods, but this is the best way.

adverb

1. most excellently or suitably; with most advantage or success.

   I think it will be an opera role that best suits her voice.

2. in or to the highest degree; most fully (usually used in combination).

   Shakespeare's best-known poems are his sonnets, but he also wrote narrative poems.

   Eleanor Roosevelt and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy remain two of the United States' best-loved First Ladies.

   Your security system company can advise you about the features best suited for your home.

noun

1. the best, something or someone that is the most excellent, most suitable, of the highest quality, or the highest degree (often used withof ).

   They always demand and get the best.

   The best of us can make mistakes.

   To the best of my knowledge, this was the first use of that word in print.

2. a person's finest clothing.

   It's important that you wear your best.

3. a person's most agreeable or desirable emotional state (often preceded byat ).

   She's not at her best before her morning coffee, so you might want to wait a few minutes to talk to her.

4. a person's highest degree of competence, inspiration, etc. (often preceded byat ).

   He's at his best when he works in a team.

5. the highest quality to be found in a given activity or category of things (often preceded byat ).

   These gorgeous oak kitchen cabinets are an example of cabinetmaking at its best.

6. the maximum effort that a person, group, or thing can make.

   Their best fell far short of excellence.

7. a person's good wishes or kindest regards.

   Please give my best to your father.

verb (used with object)

1. to get the better of; defeat; beat.

   He easily bested his opponent in hand-to-hand combat.

   She bested me in the argument.

Best

²

[best]

noun

1. Charles Herbert, 1899–1978, Canadian physiologist, born in the U.S.: one of the discoverers of insulin.

best

¹

/ bɛst /

adjective

1. the superlative of good

2. most excellent of a particular group, category, etc

3. most suitable, advantageous, desirable, attractive, etc

4. most of

   the best part of an hour

5. 1. to do one's utmost to make progress

   2. to hurry

adverb

1. the superlative of well 1

2. in a manner surpassing all others; most excellently, advantageously, attractively, etc

3. (in combination) in or to the greatest degree or extent; most

   the best-loved hero

4. as effectively as possible within one's limitations

5. would be wise, sensible, etc, to

   you had best go now

noun

1. the most outstanding or excellent person, thing, or group in a category

2. (often preceded by at) the most excellent, pleasing, or skilled quality or condition

   journalism at its best

3. the most effective effort of which a person or group is capable

   even their best was inadequate

4. a winning majority

   the best of three games

5. Also: all the best. best wishes

   she sent him her best

6. a person's smartest outfit of clothing

7. 1. in the most favourable interpretation

   2. under the most favourable conditions

8. 1. for an ultimately good outcome

   2. with good intentions

      he meant it for the best

9. to surpass, defeat, or outwit; better

10. to concede someone's superiority

11. to cope as well as possible in the unfavourable circumstances of (often in the phrases make the best of a bad job, make the best of it )

12. informal,  six strokes with a cane on the buttocks or hand

verb

1. (tr) to gain the advantage over or defeat

Best

²

/ bɛst /

noun

1. Charles Herbert . 1899–1978, Canadian physiologist: associated with Banting and Macleod in their discovery of insulin in 1922

2. George . 1946–2005, Northern Ireland footballer

Best

1. American-born Canadian physiologist who assisted Frederick Banting in the discovery of the hormone insulin. In acknowledgment of his work, Banting shared his portion of the 1923 Nobel Prize with Best. In addition to further refining the use of insulin, Best later discovered the vitamin choline and the enzyme histaminase, which breaks down histamine.

Word History and Origins

Origin of best¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English beste, Old English betst, best; cognate with Dutch best, Old High German bezzist ( German best ), Old Norse bezt, Gothic batists; better ¹, -est ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of best¹

Old English betst ; related to Gothic batista , Old High German bezzist

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. the best part of, most of.

   Repairing the window took the best part of a day.

2. at best, under the most favorable circumstances.

   You may expect to be treated civilly, at best.

3. all for the best, for the good as the final result; to an ultimate advantage: Also for the best

   It turned out to be all for the best, though at the time we didn’t realize it.

4. make the best of, to cope with in the best way possible.

   The rain makes it a lot harder to have a picnic, but we know how to make the best of a bad situation.

5. as best one can, in the best way possible under the circumstances.

   We tried to smooth over the disagreement as best we could.

6. get / have the best of,

   1. to gain the advantage over.

   2. to defeat; subdue.

      His allergies get the best of him from time to time.

7. best of both worlds, the most excellent or desirable parts of two things combined, especially two things that might otherwise be difficult to reconcile.

   With a quiet rural atmosphere and a short commute time into the city, this suburb is ideal for office workers who want the best of both worlds.

8. had best, would be wisest or most reasonable to; ought to.

   You had best phone your mother to tell her where you are going.

9. with the best, on a par with the most capable.

   He can play bridge with the best.

More idioms and phrases containing best

• Sunday best
• all for the best
• all the best
• as best one can
• at best
• at one's best
• better
• come off (second-best)
• do one's best
• get the better (best) of
• give it one's best shot
• had better (best)
• in one's (best) interest
• make the best of it
• on one's best behavior
• put one's best foot forward
• second best
• to the best of one's ability
• with the best of them
• with the best will in the world

Example Sentences

A draw on the road against the supposed best team in the group was a sound start.

From BBC

"For me, she's going to be the best player in the world without a shadow of a doubt."

From BBC

I don’t think it’s up to me to try to change any minds about it, only to do the best job I possibly can at uplifting this gorgeous, perfect story.

From Los Angeles Times

“You have to have your best players play big in the biggest games.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Despite our best efforts to find a sustainable path forward — including exploring every possible solution to address these challenges — we have made the very difficult decision to wind down the business.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beat 
• blank 
• conquer 
• outclass 
• outdo 
• outshine 
• overcome 
• surpass 
• take care of 
• trounce