worst

[ wurst ]

adjective

1. bad or ill in the highest, greatest, or most extreme degree:

   the worst person.

2. most faulty, unsatisfactory, or objectionable:

   the worst paper submitted.

3. most unfavorable or injurious.
4. in the poorest condition:

   the worst house on the block.

5. most unpleasant, unattractive, or disagreeable:

   the worst personality I've ever known.

6. most lacking in skill; least skilled:

   He’s the worst player on the team.

noun

1. that which is worst.

adverb

1. in the most evil, wicked, severe, or disadvantageous manner.
2. with the most severity, intensity, etc.; in the greatest degree.

verb (used with object)

1. to defeat; beat:

   He worsted him easily.

worst

/ wɜːst /

adjective

1. the superlative of bad 1

adverb

1. in the most extreme or bad manner or degree
2. least well, suitably, or acceptably
3. in combination in or to the smallest degree or extent; least

   worst-loved

noun

1. the worst
   the least good or most inferior person, thing, or part in a group, narrative, etc
2. often preceded by at the most poor, unpleasant, or unskilled quality or condition

   television is at its worst these days

3. the greatest amount of damage or wickedness of which a person or group is capable

   the invaders came and did their worst

4. the weakest effort or poorest achievement that a person or group is capable of making

   the applicant did his worst at the test because he did not want the job

5. the worst
   1. in the least favourable interpretation or view
   2. under the least favourable conditions
6. if the worst comes to the worst
   if all the more desirable alternatives become impossible or if the worst possible thing happens
7. come off worst or get the worst of it
   to enjoy the least benefit from an issue or be defeated in it

verb

1. tr to get the advantage over; defeat or beat

Word History and Origins

Origin of worst¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English worste (adjective, adverb, and noun), Old English wur(re)sta, wyr(re)st, wer(re)sta (adjective and adverb); cognate with Old Norse verstr; worse, -est ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of worst¹

Old English wierrest; related to Old Frisian wersta, Old Saxon, Old High German wirsisto, Old Norse verstr

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at worst, if the worst happens; under the worst conditions: Also at the worst.

   He will be expelled from school, at worst.

2. get the worst of, to be defeated in; experience the most harm from:

   New Jersey got the worst of the storm.

3. if worst comes to worst, if the very worst happens:

   If worst comes to worst, we still have some money in reserve.

4. in the worst way, Informal. in an extreme degree; very much: Also the worst way.

   She wanted a new robe for Christmas in the worst way.

More idioms and phrases containing worst

see at worst ; get (have) the worst of it ; if worst comes to worst ; in the worst way . Also see under worse .

Example Sentences

But there is an underlying feeling that the worst is yet to come.

From The Daily Beast

If there are 162 confirmed deaths from Flight 8501, this would make 2014 the worst year for accident deaths since 2005.

From The Daily Beast

And his worst work is better than the stuff everyone else is doing.

From The Daily Beast

It was neither the best nor worst pickup line I encountered that evening.

From The Daily Beast

Although I was not free of eating disorder thoughts, I figured the worst of it was behind me.

From The Daily Beast

Urbanity ushers in water that needs no apology, and gives a zest to the worst vintage.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of us had been hit by the balls, but a bruise or a graze of the skin was the worst consequence that had ensued.

From Project Gutenberg

Worst danger zone, the open sea, now traversed, but on land not yet out of the wood.

From Project Gutenberg

The worst loss is that of Winston's ear; high principles won't obtain high explosives.

From Project Gutenberg

Conditions in the new country had gone from bad to worse, and if the season should experience another drought, the worst was come.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• lowest