worst

[ wurst ]

/ wɜrst /

adjective, superl. of bad and ill.

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

most faulty, unsatisfactory, or objectionable: the worst paper submitted.

most unfavorable or injurious.

in the poorest condition: the worst house on the block.

most unpleasant, unattractive, or disagreeable: the worst personality I've ever known.

most lacking in skill; least skilled: the worst typist in the group.

noun

that which is worst.

adverb

in the most evil, wicked, severe, or disadvantageous manner.

with the most severity, intensity, etc.; in the greatest degree.

verb (used with object)

to defeat; beat: He worsted him easily.

Nearby words

worship, worship the ground someone walks on, worshipful, worshipper, worssett, worst, worst case, worst-case, worsted, wort, worth

Idioms

at worst, if the worst happens; under the worst conditions: He will be expelled from school, at worst.Also at the worst.

get the worst of something, to be defeated by; lose: to get the worst of a fight.

if worst comes to worst, if the very worst happens: If worst comes to worst, we still have some money in reserve.

in the worst way, Informal. in an extreme degree; very much: She wanted a new robe for Christmas in the worst way.Also the worst way.

Origin of worst

before 900; Middle English worste (adj., adv., and noun), Old English wur(re)sta, wyr(re)st, wer(re)sta (adj. and adv.); cognate with Old Norse verstr; see worse, -est¹

Can be confusedworst wurst

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for in the worst way

worst

/ (wɜːst) /

adjective

the superlative of bad 1

adverb

in the most extreme or bad manner or degree

least well, suitably, or acceptably

(in combination) in or to the smallest degree or extent; leastworst-loved

noun

the worst the least good or most inferior person, thing, or part in a group, narrative, etc

(often preceded by at) the most poor, unpleasant, or unskilled quality or conditiontelevision is at its worst these days

the greatest amount of damage or wickedness of which a person or group is capablethe invaders came and did their worst

the weakest effort or poorest achievement that a person or group is capable of makingthe applicant did his worst at the test because he did not want the job

the worst

in the least favourable interpretation or view
under the least favourable conditions

if the worst comes to the worst if all the more desirable alternatives become impossible or if the worst possible thing happens

come off worst or get the worst of it to enjoy the least benefit from an issue or be defeated in it

verb

(tr) to get the advantage over; defeat or beat

Word Origin for worst

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

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

Word Origin and History for in the worst way (1 of 2)

worst

adj.

Old English wyrresta, from Proto-Germanic *wers-ista- (cf. Old Saxon wirsista, Old Norse verstr, Old Frisian wersta, Old High German wirsisto), superlative of PIE *wers- "to confuse, mix up" (see worse). Phrase in the worst way (1839) is from American English sense of "most severely."

Word Origin and History for in the worst way (1 of 2)

worst

"damage, inflict loss upon," c.1600, from worst (adj.). Related: Worsted; worsting.

Idioms and Phrases with in the worst way (1 of 2)

in the worst way

Desperately, very much, as in He wanted a new trumpet in the worst way. This usage replaced worst kind. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with in the worst way (2 of 2)

worst

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

worst

adjective, superl. of bad and ill.

noun

adverb

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of worst

British Dictionary definitions for in the worst way

worst

adjective

adverb

noun

verb

Word Origin for worst

Word Origin and History for in the worst way (1 of 2)

worst

Word Origin and History for in the worst way (1 of 2)

worst

Idioms and Phrases with in the worst way (1 of 2)

in the worst way

Idioms and Phrases with in the worst way (2 of 2)

worst