Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To get the better of; outdo; surpass.
  • To overreach or outwit: as, to best a client.
  • To defeat in a contest; do better than; beat; hence, in pugilism, to thrash soundly; drub; defeat at fisticuffs.
  • In the most excellent or most suitable manner; with most advantage or success: as, he who runs best gets the prize; the best-behaved boy in the school; the best-cultivated fields.
  • In or to the highest degree; to the fullest extent; most fully: as, those who know him best speak highly of him; those best informed say so; the best-abused man in town.
  • Of the highest quality, excellence, or standing: said of both persons and things in regard to mental, moral, or physical qualities, whether inherent or acquired: as, the best writers and speakers; the best families; the best judgment; the best years of one's life; a house built of the best materials.
  • Of greatest advantage, usefulness, or suitability for the purpose intended; most advantageous, suitable, appropriate, or desirable: as, the best man for the place; the best way to do anything.
  • Most kind, beneficent, or good: applied to persons: as, the best husband imaginable; which of your brothers is best to you?
  • Largest; greatest; most: as, we spent the best part of three days in getting there.
  • noun The highest possible state of excellence; the best quality or property of a person or thing.
  • noun All that one can do, or show in one's self: often used in this sense with the possessive pronouns my, thy, his, their, etc.: as, I will do my best to advance your interests; she is bent on looking her best; he did all he could to appear at his best in that performance.
  • noun The best. The best people collectively; those of the highest standing in any respect, but especially socially or intellectually.
  • noun The best things, or a thing of the best quality: as, he always buys the best; dressed in one's best.
  • noun Often used in speaking of things or events that are not so good or favorable as was expected or was to be wished: as, to make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain.
  • Specifically, noting a certain grade of wrought-iron, which is generally divided into four grades: crown, best, best best, and best best best or treble best.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb colloq. To get the better of.
  • adjective Having good qualities in the highest degree; most good, kind, desirable, suitable, etc.; most excellent.
  • adjective Most advanced; most correct or complete.
  • adjective Most; largest.
  • adjective the only or principal groomsman at a wedding ceremony.
  • In the highest degree; beyond all others.
  • To the most advantage; with the most success, case, profit, benefit, or propriety.
  • Most intimately; most thoroughly or correctly.
  • noun Utmost; highest endeavor or state; most nearly perfect thing, or being, or action.
  • noun in the utmost degree or extent applicable to the case; under the most favorable circumstances; as, life is at best very short.
  • noun [Obs.] finally.
  • noun to gain an advantage over, whether fairly or unfairly.
  • noun To reduce to the least possible inconvenience; as, to make the best of ill fortune or a bad bargain.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective superlative form of good: most good.
  • adverb superlative form of well: most well.
  • noun uncountable The supreme effort one can make
  • noun countable The person (or persons) who is (are) most excellent.
  • verb transitive To beat in a contest; to surpass in skill or achievement.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective (comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable
  • adjective (superlative of `good') having the most positive qualities
  • adverb from a position of superiority or authority
  • verb get the better of
  • adverb it would be sensible
  • noun the person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others
  • noun Canadian physiologist (born in the United States) who assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin (1899-1978)
  • adverb in a most excellent way or manner
  • noun the supreme effort one can make

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English beste, from Old English betst, betest ("best"), from Proto-Germanic *batistaz (“best”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhAd- (“good”). Cognate with Scots best ("best"), West Frisian best ("best"), Dutch best ("best"), German beste ("best"), Danish bedst ("best"), Swedish bäst ("best"), Icelandic bestur ("best"). More at better.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word best.

Examples

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.