best

[ best ]

/ bɛst /

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See synonyms for best on Thesaurus.com

adjective, superlative of good, with better as comparative.

of the highest quality, excellence, or standing: the best work; the best students.

most advantageous, suitable, or desirable: the best way.

largest; most: the best part of a day.

adverb, superlative of well, with better as comparative.

most excellently or suitably; with most advantage or success: an opera role that best suits her voice.

in or to the highest degree; most fully (usually used in combination): best-suited; best-known; best-loved.

noun

something or someone that is best: They always demand and get the best. The best of us can make mistakes.

a person's finest clothing: It's important that you wear your best.

a person's most agreeable or desirable emotional state (often preceded by at).

a person's highest degree of competence, inspiration, etc. (often preceded by at).

the highest quality to be found in a given activity or category of things (often preceded by at): cabinetmaking at its best.

the best effort that a person, group, or thing can make: Their best fell far short of excellence.

a person's best wishes or kindest regards: Please give my best to your father.

verb (used with object)

to get the better of; defeat; beat: He easily bested his opponent in hand-to-hand combat. She bested me in the argument.

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Idioms about best

all for the best, for the good as the final result; to an ultimate advantage: At the time it was hard to realize how it could be all for the best.Also for the best .

as best one can, in the best way possible under the circumstances: We tried to smooth over the disagreement as best we could.

at best, under the most favorable circumstances: You may expect to be treated civilly, at best.

get / have the best of,

to gain the advantage over.
to defeat; subdue: His arthritis gets the best of him from time to time.

had best, would be wisest or most reasonable to; ought to: You had best phone your mother to tell her where you are going.

make the best of, to cope with in the best way possible: to make the best of a bad situation.

with the best, on a par with the most capable: He can play bridge with the best.

Origin of best

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. See better¹, -est¹

Other definitions for best (2 of 2)

Best

[ best ]

/ bɛst /

noun

Charles Herbert, 1899–1978, Canadian physiologist, born in the U.S.: one of the discoverers of insulin.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use best in a sentence

In the head to head, surveying only Republican primary voters, McConnell bests Bevin 55 percent to 29 percent.
Tea Partier Matt Bevin Is Selling Himself as the Anti-Mitch McConnell|Sam Youngman|February 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Chris Christie and the Newark, N.J., mayor duke it out in this spoof—and for once, the New Jersey governor bests Booker.
Donna Summer, Jay-Z on Marriage Equality, Tyra Banks, and More Viral Videos (Videos)|The Daily Beast Video|May 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Not a single one of them—not Herman Cain nor Mitt Romney nor Rick Perry—bests a badly weakened Barack Obama in the latest polls.
Why the GOP Should Panic|Matt Latimer|November 7, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Now is about enjoying the process of realizing personal bests.
What the Stars Predict for Your Week|Starsky + Cox|August 20, 2011|DAILY BEAST

A true Aries, Franco quests for personal bests, recognizing no competition other than himself.
Zodiac Beast: April 17-24|Starsky + Cox|April 16, 2011|DAILY BEAST
I feel as if I were getting second-bests, paste substitutes for the real jewels.
The Great God Success|John Graham (David Graham Phillips)
The whole is an extravagant riot of second bests, a pandemonium of pis-aller.
What's Wrong With The World|G.K. Chesterton
Other youths were wearing gaudy ties and imperilling their Sunday bests; he was letting precious time slip.
The Place Beyond the Winds|Harriet T. Comstock
When he himself agitated for that Smiley multiplied the bests upon her as long as there to him remained a red.
The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
In the matter of style--as Flaubert has said--the second-bests are often the better teachers.
De Libris: Prose and Verse|Austin Dobson

British Dictionary definitions for best (1 of 2)

best

/ (bɛst) /

adjective

the superlative of good

most excellent of a particular group, category, etc

most suitable, advantageous, desirable, attractive, etc

the best part of most ofthe best part of an hour

put one's best foot forward

to do one's utmost to make progress
to hurry

adverb

the superlative of well 1

in a manner surpassing all others; most excellently, advantageously, attractively, etc

(in combination) in or to the greatest degree or extent; mostthe best-loved hero

as best one can or as best one may as effectively as possible within one's limitations

had best would be wise, sensible, etc, toyou had best go now

noun

the best the most outstanding or excellent person, thing, or group in a category

(often preceded by at) the most excellent, pleasing, or skilled quality or conditionjournalism at its best

the most effective effort of which a person or group is capableeven their best was inadequate

a winning majoritythe best of three games

Also: all the best best wishesshe sent him her best

a person's smartest outfit of clothing

at best

in the most favourable interpretation
under the most favourable conditions

for the best

for an ultimately good outcome
with good intentionshe meant it for the best

get the best of or have the best of to surpass, defeat, or outwit; better

give someone the best to concede someone's superiority

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)

six of the best informal six strokes with a cane on the buttocks or hand

verb

(tr) to gain the advantage over or defeat

Word Origin for best

Old English betst; related to Gothic batista, Old High German bezzist

British Dictionary definitions for best (2 of 2)

Best

/ (bɛst) /

noun

Charles Herbert . 1899–1978, Canadian physiologist: associated with Banting and Macleod in their discovery of insulin in 1922

George . 1946–2005, Northern Ireland footballer

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for best

Best

[ bĕst ]

Charles Herbert 1899-1978

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.

Other Idioms and Phrases with best

best

In addition to the idioms beginning with best

best bib and tucker
best of both worlds, the
best part of something
best shot

also see:

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

Also see underbetter.

best

Idioms about best

Origin of best

Other definitions for best (2 of 2)

Words related to best

How to use best in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for best (1 of 2)

Word Origin for best

British Dictionary definitions for best (2 of 2)

Scientific definitions for best

Other Idioms and Phrases with best