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 with of ):

   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 by at ):

   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 by at ):

   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 by at ):

   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. the best part of
   most of

   the best part of an hour

5. put one's best foot forward
   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 best one can or as best one may
   as effectively as possible within one's limitations
5. had best
   would be wise, sensible, etc, to

   you had best go now

noun

1. the best
   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. Alsoall the best best wishes

   she sent him her best

6. a person's smartest outfit of clothing
7. at best
   1. in the most favourable interpretation
   2. under the most favourable conditions
8. for the best
   1. for an ultimately good outcome
   2. with good intentions

      he meant it for the best

9. get the best of or have the best of
   to surpass, defeat, or outwit; better
10. give someone the best
    to concede someone's superiority
11. make the best of
    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. six of the best 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. BestCharles Herbert18991978MCanadianSCIENCE: physiologist Charles Herbert . 1899–1978, Canadian physiologist: associated with Banting and Macleod in their discovery of insulin in 1922
2. BestGeorge19462005MNorthern IrishSPORT AND GAMES: footballer George . 1946–2005, Northern Ireland footballer

Best

/ bĕst /

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. 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.

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

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

3. at best, under the most favorable circumstances:

   You may expect to be treated civilly, at best.

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

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

7. 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.

8. the best part of, most of:

   Repairing the window took the best part of a day.

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

   He can play bridge with the best.

More idioms and phrases containing best

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

Example Sentences

After receiving rave reviews — and four Olivier Awards, including best musical — it transferred to Broadway for the 2024-25 season, becoming the first big show to reopen in the newly remodeled Palace Theatre.

From Los Angeles Times

He also said he believed "that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England".

From BBC

“As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand ‘Choice’ to every State in America, and empower parents to make the best Education decisions for their families.

From Salon

The actor told the publication his addiction began with wine, specifically with a wine cellar he had built into his home where he "learned to drink my best."

From Salon

“I firmly believe that it is the best and probably only path to pass a five-year farm bill this year.”

From Salon

Related Words

• choice
• favorite