at best

Idioms  

1. Under the most favorable circumstances, as in At best we'll be just one week behind schedule, or Cleaning out the attic is a tedious job at best. This idiom, formerly also put as at the best, today is most often used in situations that are actually far from ideal, as in the examples above. [First half of 1300s] For an antonym, see at worst.

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Example Sentences

This creates short term duplication and confusion at best — and mid- to long-term losses, at worst.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

As a satire, it’s almost too implied — the filmmakers barely bother to develop their ideas, figuring correctly that people already agree the internet is, at best, a neutral-evil.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

The mantra “if it bleeds, it leads” has been, at best, a mixed bag for media over many decades.

From Slate • Apr. 7, 2026

“What will matter most of all to markets is news on the Iran conflict; macro data will at best play second fiddle,” said Investec economist Sandra Horsfield in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

He knew the prosecutors were on the fence, at best, about charging Reggie with negligent homicide.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• at least
• partially
• slightly
• somewhat