EST

¹ American  

Or E.S.T.,

abbreviation

1. Eastern Standard Time.

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-est ² American  

1. a suffix forming the superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs.

   warmest; fastest; soonest.

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-est ³ American  

1. a native English suffix formerly used to form the second person singular indicative of verbs.

   knowest; sayest; goest.

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est. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. established.

2. estate.

3. estimate.

4. estimated.

5. estuary.

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EST ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Eastern Standard Time

2. electric-shock treatment

3. Estonia (international car registration)

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est ² British  

abbreviation

1. Also: estab.  established

2. estimate(d)

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-est ³ British  

suffix

1. forming the superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs

   shortest

   fastest

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-est ⁴ British  

suffix

1. forming the archaic second person singular present and past indicative tense of verbs

   thou goest

   thou hadst

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est ⁵ British  

/ ɛst /

noun

1. a treatment intended to help people towards psychological growth, in which they spend many hours in large groups, deprived of food and water and hectored by stewards

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Etymology

Origin of -est²

Middle English; Old English -est, -ost. Compare Greek -isto-

Origin of -est³

Middle English; Old English -est, -ast, -st, 2nd person singular present indicative endings of some verbs ( -s earlier verbal ending + -t, by assimilation from thū thou ¹ ) and 2nd person singular past endings of weak verbs (earlier -es + -t )

Compare meaning

How does est compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• CDT vs. EST
• EST vs. EDT
• PST vs. EST
• CST vs. EST

Example Sentences

EST, the president posted a stream of comments on social media about the U.S. men’s hockey team’s win at the Winter Olympics.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

EST on Thursday, Feb. 12, and 5:15 a.m.

From Science Daily • Feb. 2, 2026

Analysts surveyed by The Wall Street Journal before the report’s release at noon EST had widely expected ending stocks to sink across the board, with 2025 crop yields lower amid larger projections for export sales.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026

"It's equally important that steps are now taken to strengthen consumer protection and support going forward, to ensure households have confidence when upgrading their homes," said Stew Horne, head of policy at the EST.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2025

EST, the Atlas rocket boosted Friendship 7 into orbit like a champion archer hitting a bull’s-eye.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly