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

See Examples For:

at best

Leaving the Spanish capital - even for a club as illustrious at Arsenal - would be viewed as, at best, a sidewards step.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Rheon said make-up artists used heavy moisturiser to portray characters sweating - with the actual weather conditions "changeable" at best - as they filmed the BBC portrayal of Liz Jensen's bestselling novel.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

And despite its legality, since the early 1990s, in all 50 states, national statistics offer at best an incomplete picture.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

The fact that a different adjuster inspected the same property and found substantially more covered damage suggests the initial inspection was incomplete at best, and reckless at worst.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026

Didn’t he have the same bubbles of air in his throat, keeping the words back, letting out only a stutter at best?

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• at least
• partially
• slightly
• somewhat